California leaders are staring at a $1 billion shortfall in funding for the state-run healthcare provider Medi-Cal. Following the passage of last month’s budget, Gov. Jerry Brown announced a special legislative session dedicated to figuring out how to backfill $1.1 billion dollars the state will lose when the managed care organization (MCO) tax expires next year.

Legislators also need to find $200 million to fund the restoration of In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS). Beyond that, Brown is asking legislators to craft a plan that will pay for IHSS well into the future. David Gorn is a senior reporter for California Healthline and has been following the special session that started this week. He joins us to talk about the plans being proposed. 

LINKS:

• California Healthline: Special Session On Health Spending Opens
• California Healthline: Governor Calls for Special Legislative Session To Address Health Spending
• KQED: Legislators Tackle Transportation, Health Care Funding in Special Sessions
• Special Session Assembly
• Special Session Senate