This January 7 Health Access California report outlines the effects of the $2 billion cuts in health care included in the budget passed by the California Legislature and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) in July 2009.  The report findings include that nearly 3 million adults lost 10 important benefits, including psychotherapy services; 93,000 children waited for CHIP coverage while 269,000 children faced higher cost sharing under the program; and five community clinics closed.

From the report:

The biggest single cut in 2009 was the elimination of ten benefits for all of the nearly 3 million Californian adults with Medi-Cal coverage. Under the cuts, ordered by the Governor and approved by the Legislature, low-income adults can no longer get dental work or teeth cleaning, speech therapy or hearing tests, and vision exams or prescription eyeglasses – the basic services particularly needed by those preparing to look for work. In addition, there is no more psychological coverage – critical services when financially stressed families are challenged in trying to survive the economic recession and remain intact.

Full report: The Damage is Already Done: The 2009 Health Budget Cuts Six Months In (PDF | 405.89 KB)

Health Access. (2010). The damage already done: the 2009 health budget cuts six months in.  Craft, C., Odeh, M. and Wright, A.