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Examining Incarceration Drivers and Promising Solutions Issue Brief

June 18, 2025

This ITUP Fact Sheet highlights insights from Shasta, San Joaquin, and Stanislaus counties, rural communities navigating service gaps, social drivers of incarceration, and community-led solutions to support justice-involved populations.

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ITUP Mini Blog: Progress or Setbacks? Weighing Policies That Impact Undocumented Communities

April 10, 2025

ITUP is monitoring immigration-related bills that could impact California’s health coverage expansion. Read more!

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ITUP Mini Blog: Advancing Women’s Health in California

March 25, 2025

What’s Happening in Women’s Health Legislation? Read about new bills tackling health care disparities in women’s health.

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Key Insights: 2025 ITUP Pre-Conference Workshop

March 5, 2025

The report captures actionable strategies and advocacy messages identified during the 2025 ITUP Pre-Conference workshop, offering a roadmap for stakeholders committed to advancing health equity.

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ITUP Legislative Toolkit: Understanding Essential Health Benefits

February 26, 2025

EHBs ensure that all Covered California health plans provide a standardized level of care, protecting individuals and families from gaps in coverage.

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ITUP Blog: Governor’s Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget Proposal

January 31, 2025

By Sumaira Akbarzada and Jana Wright Governor’s Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget Proposal On January 10, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom released his Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 Budget proposal of $322 billion total funds (TF) (). Health and Human Services makes up a large portion of the budget with proposed expenditures of $296.1 billion ($83.7 billion General […]

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California Health Care Workforce Shortage: ITUP Convenes Regional Equity Collaboratives to Address Solutions

October 14, 2024

Discover key insights into California’s statewide health workforce shortage and explore local perspectives from across the state.

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Transforming Behavioral Health Services in California Jail Systems

September 24, 2024

This ITUP Fact Sheet underscores the urgent need for equitable access to behavioral health services for California’s justice-involved population.

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ITUP Convenes Medi-Cal Redetermination Listening Sessions – Final Takeaways

March 28, 2024

Learn more about the Medi-Cal redetermination process and read local insights and additional opportunities to support Medi-Cal redetermination across the state.

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ITUP Blog: 2024 Introduced Legislation

March 14, 2024

This blog summarizes introduced legislation that proposes solutions relating to ITUP’s three priority policy issues: health care coverage and access, delivery system transformation, and the future of health.

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ITUP Blog: 2023 Legislation Round Up

November 27, 2023

The 2023 round-up of some significant health and health-related bills that were signed into law and some that were vetoed (shown in italics).

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Health Coverage at a Glance In California

October 23, 2023

This Health Coverage at a Glance in California includes data on the race/ethnicity breakdown of employer-sponsored coverage, Covered California, and Medi-Cal, including enrollment by health plan.

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2023 Regional Health Coverage Fact Sheets

July 6, 2023

Each year ITUP releases Regional Health Coverage fact sheets highlighting key health coverage facts county-by-county in California. Find your local 2023 regional health coverage fact sheet here.

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ITUP Presentation: Ensuring Equitable Health Coverage and Access in Pandemic Recovery

June 21, 2023

ITUP Presents at the Central Valley Health Network (CVHN) Quarterly Roundtable 

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ITUP Blog: Governor’s Fiscal Year 2023-24 Budget Proposal

March 28, 2023

This blog highlights key health and human services proposals in the FY 2023-24 proposed budget as well as proposals that improve health equity and address the social determinants of health.

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Engaging with CalAIM: Quick Links for Community-Based Organizations

January 17, 2023

This ITUP One-Page Resource features essential information and links to key sources to help community-based organizations (CBOs) engage with CalAIM.

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ITUP Blog: 2022 Legislative Round Up

October 14, 2022

This blog is a round-up of some significant health and health-related bills that were signed into law and some that were vetoed.

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Partnering with Community Based Organizations for Better Health

September 15, 2022

ITUP fact sheet explains the role of Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and describes three service models for CBOs to partner with the health care system.

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ITUP Blog: Key Highlights in the Governor’s FY 2022-23 May Revise

June 2, 2022

This ITUP publication highlights key health and human services proposals in the FY 2022-23 May Revision as well as proposals that improve health equity and address the social determinants of health.

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CalAIM Quick Links

April 14, 2022

In this resource, ITUP categorized informational web pages and provided direct links for information on CalAIM.

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CalAIM Summary and Timeline (2022 Update)

April 12, 2022

Learn about CalAIM and its focus populations, primary goals, and major elements in the latest ITUP fact sheet.

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ITUP Blog: 2022 Introduced Legislation

March 14, 2022

This ITUP blog summarizes introduced legislation that proposes solutions relating to ITUP’s three priority policy issues: health care coverage and access, delivery system transformation, and the future of health.

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ITUP Blog: Governor’s FY 2022-23 Budget Proposal: Key Highlights

January 20, 2022

This blog highlights key health and human services proposals in the FY 2022-23 proposed budget as well as proposals that improve health equity and address the social determinants of health.

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The Intersection and Coordination of Public Health & Health Care in California

January 18, 2022

This ITUP fact sheet purposefully brings the public health and health care systems together in one publication to explore their differences and more!

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Community Health Workers and the Health Care Delivery System

December 10, 2021

In this ITUP Fact Sheet, readers will learn about community health workers, California communities where CHWs are valuable in closing equity gaps, and key policy considerations and decision points. 

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ITUP Presents at CHCF Community Health Worker State Plan Amendment Webinar

December 10, 2021

ITUP Presents at CHCF Community Health Worker State Plan Amendment Webinar.

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2021 Regional Coverage Fact Sheets

April 15, 2021

Each year ITUP releases “Coverage at a Glance” regional health coverage fact sheets highlighting key coverage facts county-by-county in California. Find your local 2021 regional health coverage fact sheet here.

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Presentation: ITUP DHCS Request For Information (RFI) Responses

October 2, 2020

On September 1, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) put out a Request for Information (RFI) regarding their Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan Procurement efforts. Comments were due on October 1. The following are ITUP DHCS RFI responses.

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California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM)

February 21, 2020

California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) is the newest ITUP Health Policy Essentials. This issue brief provides an overview of CalAIM, the related proposals in the Governor’s 2020-21 budget, and highlights potential issues and questions to inform the analysis and review of CalAIM currently underway.

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2019 Year-In-Review

December 18, 2019

The annual ITUP Year-In-Review chronicles month-by-month important state and federal health policy milestones.

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Covering Undocumented Young Adults in Medi-Cal

December 13, 2019

On January 1, 2020, California will extend Medi-Cal eligibility to low-income undocumented young adults.

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Medi-Cal Waivers Discussion Guide

October 3, 2019

This discussion guide is a companion document to the Mapping the Future issue brief, and focuses on the waivers, and the state process for addressing the issues presented by the 2020 deadline, as policymakers and stakeholders consider the implications and next steps for Medi-Cal.

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Public Charge & Health Care in California

August 14, 2019

On August 12, 2019, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (USDHS) released the final rule on “public charge.” The latest ITUP Blog and Fact Sheet provide additional background on the final rule.

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Mapping the Future of Medi-Cal

March 12, 2019

Mapping the Future of Medi-Cal and the companion publication, Mapping the Future of Individual Health Insurance, following up on the 2019 ITUP conference, take an in-depth look at the issues for these two coverage options likely to engage policymakers and stakeholders in the near future.

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Governor Newsom’s First Budget: Health Care Highlights

January 11, 2019

In his first act as Governor of California, Gavin Newsom announced executive actions and budget proposals to expand health coverage and improve affordability, signaling health care as one of his top priorities. This blog highlights health care items in the Governor’s proposed budget.

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Summary of 2018 Federal Rulemaking

January 10, 2019

This summary briefly describes key 2018 federal final rules, proposed rules and policy guidance.

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2018 Year-In-Review

January 10, 2019

The annual ITUP Year-In-Review chronicles month-by-month important state and federal health policy milestones.

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ITUP 2018 A Year-In-Review

January 9, 2019

The past year began and ended with ongoing federal efforts to invalidate or dismantle the Affordable Care Act contrasted with California’s continuing efforts to expand coverage and improve health care. These starkly different approaches at the state and federal level are outlined in the ITUP 2018 Year-In Review and the accompanying Summary of 2018 Federal Rulemaking.

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ITUP Issues Comments on Public Charge

December 4, 2018

In comments addressed to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Insure the Uninsured Project (ITUP) expressed deep concern with the proposed rule on public charge and urged DHS to withdraw the proposal.

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New Projections Estimate the Uninsured will Rise in California

November 28, 2018

In the years since implementation of the Affordable Care Act California made steady progress in reducing the number of uninsured in the state. According to newly released projections, this pattern is unlikely to continue without state policy intervention.

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New Data Reveals that Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Health Coverage are Narrowing Under the Affordable Care Act

October 31, 2018

According to newly released California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) 2017 data, disparities in health care coverage across race and ethnic subgroups have narrowed with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

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UPDATE: California Strategies: Covering California’s Remaining Uninsured and Improving Affordability

October 8, 2018

This updated issue brief analyzes policy proposals advanced in 2018 to move the state closer to universal coverage by focusing on the challenges many Californians face.

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Proposed Federal Rule on Immigrants and Public Charge

September 28, 2018

In late September 2018, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security released a proposed rule to change the factors affecting a “public charge” determination for immigrants to the U.S. The proposed rule represents a dramatic shift in immigration policy and could prevent many low-income immigrants from reuniting with their families in the U.S.

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California’s Health Care Safety Net

June 26, 2018

ITUP is pleased to release a new report, California’s Health Care Safety Net, the first in a new ITUP series, Health Policy Essentials, highlighting the basics on California health care programs and policy issues. This first issue brief focuses on the programs, providers and populations that make-up the state’s health care safety net for low-income and underserved communities.

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Exploring Public Options in California

March 20, 2018

This ITUP report looks at public plan choice, the “public option,” through a California lens. ITUP identifies the unique circumstances in California relevant for the discussion about public options and outlines how a California public option might be structured.

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Health Care Reform: 2017 Year-In-Review

January 7, 2018

Because California embraced the opportunities available under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), 2017 began and ended with California reaching historic low rates of uninsured. The timeline below reviews notable health reform events for 2017 and includes links to source documents and related ITUP publications.

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California Department of Health Care Services Confirms Graham-Cassidy Legislation Would Be Devastating for Health Care in California

September 25, 2017

On September 22, 2017, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) released a fiscal analysis of pending Affordable Care Act (ACA) repeal legislation authored by U.S. Senators Graham, Cassidy, Heller and Johnson (Graham-Cassidy).

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ACA Stands (for Now): Takeaways from the Repeal and Replace Roller Coaster

July 28, 2017

For now, the ACA remains. Credit goes to all the community voices, advocates, and experts who kept the pressure on elected officials and continued to call out the very real threats the proposals represented. Here for consideration are some takeaways from the admittedly chaotic “repeal and replace” process.

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The Common Theme of Pending Senate Health Reform Bills? Dramatic Increases in the Number of Uninsured

July 23, 2017

As of this writing, multiple discussion drafts of potential legislation to repeal or rollback the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) are pending in the U.S. Senate. All the bills result in dramatic increases in the number of uninsured over the next ten years.

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Meeting the Health Needs of the Immigrant Community In Uncertain Times

June 14, 2017

This fact sheet provides information on California’s immigrant community, the barriers they face to access health care, and California policies promoting access and/or coverage for all residents, regardless of immigration status.

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California Budget Conference Committee Considers Coverage Expansion for Young Adults

June 5, 2017

While federal policymakers consider legislation that would eliminate coverage for 23 million Americans, California considers expanding Medi-Cal to all low-income California residents up to age 26   Late last week, the two-house budget conference committee of the California Legislature began deliberations on the 2017-2018 state budget. The conference committee will take up multiple budget items […]

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ITUP ACA Watch, Issue 4 — The ACA and Medi-Cal: What’s at Stake?

May 25, 2017

This issue of ACA Watch highlights program and population changes that re-shaped Medi-Cal under ACA. In addition to expanding coverage for some of the state’s most disenfranchised residents, the ACA dramatically altered the demographic profile and scope of the Medi-Cal program.   Download ACA Watch, Issue 4 here.

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Summary of President Trump’s Proposed Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Plan

May 24, 2017

On May 23, 2017, the Trump Administration released its proposed federal fiscal year (FFY) 2018 budget plan which relies on draconian cuts to the safety-net to increase spending for the military, border security, tax reform and infrastructure.

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U.S. House of Representatives Passes Bill that Will Lead to Millions of Uninsured

May 5, 2017

On May 4, 2017, the United States (U.S.) House of Representatives passed a budget resolution, the American Health Care Act (AHCA) (H.R. 1628), as amended. AHCA passed on a party line vote, 217-213. The AHCA is intended to deliver on the Republican pledge to “repeal and replace” the ACA. Last minute amendments added funding for […]

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Transforming Drug Medi-Cal: Key Considerations for a Waiver Amendment

June 2, 2014

California’s expanded Medi-Cal program and expanded Substance Use Disorder (SUD) benefit provides an opportunity for beneficiaries to access improved services through the Drug Medi-Cal (DMC) program. In California, 1.9 million individuals are newly enrolled in Medi-Cal in 2014, [1] and an anticipated 147,000 to 195,000 of these individuals are in need of SUD treatment. [2] […]

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