Breaking Voter Trust: May revise proposes dangerous Medi-Cal cuts
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As unprecedented federal Medicaid cuts loom, Governor Gavin Newsom’s revised budget proposal would further devastate access to care by diverting billions in voter-approved Prop 35 and Prop 56 funds – money intended to support Medi-Cal and improve care for vulnerable Californians.
CMA strongly opposes this move, which ignores Prop 35’s mandate to raise provider rates and protect patient access to care, and instead uses designated health care funds to plug budget holes of the state’s own making. It’s a direct contradiction of voter intent.
CMA President Shannon Udovic-Constant, M.D., said of Newsom’s proposal: “This isn’t just a broken promise – it’s a dangerous precedent that will worsen California’s health care crisis. With federal Medicaid cuts looming and 15 million Californians relying on Medi-Cal, this budget move threatens access to care across the state and is an attack on our most vulnerable communities.”
We’ll have more to say on this in the coming weeks including actions physicians can take to encourage the legislature and Governor to course correct.
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Federal Alert: Medicaid still on the chopping block
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Suspense Day Recap: CMA-sponsored bills mostly advance
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Seven of eight CMA’s priority bills advanced past recent suspense file hearings in their houses of origin and are heading to floor or second house votes. See the list of CMA's priority bills and their current status and location below. CMA will continue working to get these bills to the Governor’s desk and signed into law.
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Little Hoover Report: CMA stops harmful licensing changes
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On May 29, CMA successfully urged the Little Hoover Commission to remove several problematic proposals from its report on the Governor’s government reorganization plan. The Commission had been poised to recommend sweeping changes to professional licensing boards – including eliminating professional member majorities, creating new enforcement and fee-setting bodies, and altering complaint reporting standards. CMA testified that these proposals would add costly bureaucracy, weaken subject-matter expertise and undermine legislative oversight – all without clear benefit to consumers. CMA was one of only two groups to testify on these proposals. The Commission ultimately voted to strike all recommendations related to professional licensure from the final report.
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CMA’s team is strong—but nothing moves the needle like physicians speaking out. These are our active advocacy campaigns. Your voice, backed by your frontline experience, is the most powerful force for change. Take action today.
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AB 876 (Flora) would allow certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) to practice independently, without physician oversight, in hospitals, outpatient facilities, and dental offices across California. This bill fundamentally changes how anesthesia care is delivered by removing critical safeguards.
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The U.S. Senate is considering a federal spending bill that threatens to cut $700 billion from Medicaid, jeopardizing coverage for millions, including 3.4 million Californians. These drastic reductions would undermine health care access, particularly in rural and underserved communities. Here are two quick and easy ways to make an impact.
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Below is the current status of CMA's priority bills as of June 6, 2025. Check CMA’s Legislative Hot List to stay up to date on these and other important health care bills as they make their way through the legislature.
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Establishes a physician health and wellness program that would align California with national best practices to address physician mental health and burnout issues.
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Passed out of the Assembly (5/27) and referred to Senate B&P, Economic Development and Judiciary committees.
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AB 489 (Bonta): AI - Prevents marketing chatbots as health care providers
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Bans companies from marketing AI chatbots as licensed medical professionals. While AI can be a useful tool, patients need to know when they’re talking to an AI chatbot versus a trained health care professional.
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Unanimously passed out of the Assembly (6/2) and order to the Senate.
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AB 510 (Addis): Prior Auth - Same or Similar Specialty
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Requires appeals of prior authorization denials be performed by a provider of the same or similar specialty.
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Held in Assembly Appropriations Committee. Will not move forward this session.
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AB 512 (Harabedian): Prior Auth - Shorter Timeframes
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Requires health plans to respond to urgent prior auth requests within 24 hours and nonurgent requests within 48 hours. This change will ensure more patients can receive care or appeal denials in a timely fashion.
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Passed out of the Assembly (6/2) and ordered to the Senate.
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AB 539 (Schiavo): Prior Auth - Longer Validity Window
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Extends prior authorization validity to one year. This will provide patients with a longer window of time to receive medically necessary care and avoid the cumbersome prior authorization review and appeal processes.
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Passed out of the Assembly (5/12) and currently in Senate Health Committee.
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AB 967 (Valencia): Expedited Licensure for Out of State Physicians
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This bill will streamline the process for licensing out-of-state physicians looking to practice in California.
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Passed out of the Assembly (5/27) and referred to Senate B&P and Economic Development Comms.
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SB 32 (Weber Pierson): Maternity Access Standards
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Enhances access to maternity care services by requiring regulators to establish time and distance standards for perinatal units.
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Passed out of the Senate (6/2) and ordered to the Assembly.
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SB 306 (Becker): Prior Auth - Volume Reduction
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Requires health plans to remove prior auth requirements from services they approve more than 90% of the time to ensure patients can receive the care they need without unecessary delays.
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Unanimously passed out of the Senate (5/28) and currently in Assembly Health Committee.
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SB 351 (Cabaldon): Private Equity in Health Care
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Empowers the Attorney General to investigate and take action against private equity firms that unlawfully interfere with medical decision-making, protecting the integrity of the patient-physician relationship.
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Passed out of the Senate (5/28) and referred to Assembly B&P and Judiciary Committees.
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Successful legislative advocacy doesn't happen by accident—it requires coordinated lobbying, grassroots action and strong political advocacy. CALPAC, CMA’s physician-led political action committee, helps elect state and local candidates who share our vision for the future of medicine. Your donation directly fuels these efforts and helps turn political advocacy into legislative success. Donate or renew your support today.
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