California voters give Medi-Cal doctors a raise by passing Prop. 35

Doctors who serve California’s poorest residents will get paid more, in some cases, for the first time in two decades, thanks to a ballot measure approved by voters Tuesday.

The Associated Press called Proposition 35 victorious after results showed it jumped to a sizable lead. The ballot measure asked voters to earmark between $2 billion and $5 billion of special tax revenue annually to Medi-Cal, the state’s health insurance program for low-income residents and people with disabilities. The revenue comes from an existing tax on health insurers that lawmakers are currently able to spend in other ways.

Supporters of the measure, which includes nearly the entire health care industry, have long argued that the tax revenue comes from health care and should be reinvested in the state’s health care system.

“Prop 35’s victory on the ballot is a victory for patients across California,” said Jodi Hicks, president of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California and Prop. 35 co-chairperson, in a statement.




https://calmatters.org/politics/elections/2024/11/election-result-proposition-35/