GOP Legislators:  Need Independent Audit of Medi-Cal.  California Republican Party:  We Do NOT Want an Independent Audit of Our Books

Would you trust Gavin Newsom to do an “internal” audit of Medi-Cal?  Of course not.  You would ask, “what is he hiding?”  As we have seen with DOGE, every agency they audit finds corruption, abuse and mismanagement.

About three weeks ago, the California Republican Party, under new leadership, voted AGAINST an independent audit of the book.  The last independent audit was nine years ago.  In that time the CRP raised, and spent almost $200 million.  They hired numerous consultants.  BUT—in that time no Board member I spoke to remembered them making reports on their work in, verbally or in a report.  That is just one example of why you need an independent audit.

I have been told that the cost of an independent audit would be about $20,000 for a one year audit.  Why don’t they allow an independent audit?  Lots of reasons to oppose one—what do you think is the reason?

Just as DOGE is auditing the Federal agencies, we need a real, independent audit.  Oh, the CRP Board has an internal audit committee.  As best as I can tell, it consists of Board members.  In other words, they are auditing themselves.  What do you think Trump would say about this?

Republicans call for audit into Medi-Cal shortfall

California needs billions of dollars in extra funding to operate Medi-Cal. Republicans want a full-scale investigation into how the program’s costs have ballooned.

by Daniel Gligich, The Sun,  4/7/25  https://sjvsun.com/health/republicans-call-for-audit-into-medi-cal-shortfall/

California Republicans are calling for an audit into California’s $6.2 billion shortfall over its medical safety net program, Medi-Cal.

GOP lawmakers sent a letter to the chair of the Join Legislative Audit Committee asking for an investigation into the shortfall. 

The backstory: Last month, Gov. Gavin Newsom told lawmakers that the state needed to borrow $3.44 billion from the federal government to fund Medi-Cal. 

• Part of the reason for the shortfall is due to the state covering illegal immigrants under Medi-Cal, which had an initial estimated annual cost of $3 billion. The actual cost rose to $8.4 billion, per Newsom’s budget proposal. 
• Shortly after revealing the need for a loan, Newsom also asked state lawmakers to approve an additional $2.8 billion to maintain Medi-Cal operations through the end of the fiscal year, resulting in a $6.2 billion shortfall. 
• State spending through the General Fund has nearly doubled over the last six years to total $42.1 billion, with total spending growing by 84.2 percent to $188.1 billion. 

The big picture: Republican lawmakers are asking for the audit to address several questions, including what were the primary cost drivers of Medi-Cal’s overruns and why Newsom’s administration failed to forecast the shortfall. 

• Lawmakers are asking for an audit to determine what the future estimates are for the enrollment of illegal immigrants in Medi-Cal and how the inclusion of illegal immigrants has impacted access to providers and the availability of appointments for those already covered under Medi-Cal. 
• Further, they are asking what cost containment strategies are being considered to stabilize Medi-Cal’s budget and how those strategies would impact access to care. 

What they’re saying: “Medi-Cal is billions of dollars over budget with no clear explanation or accountability from the Governor’s office,” Asm. Carl DeMaio (R–San Diego) said. “Taxpayers deserve transparency – and a full audit to determine how this happened and how we can fix this vital program Californians rely on for health care.”

• Minority Leader James Gallagher (R–East Nicolaus) added, “Democrats’ bad accounting has brought Medi-Cal to the breaking point, making it harder for patients to get in to see a doctor. We owe it to Californians – and to the vulnerable people who depend on this program – to make sure Medi-Cal is meeting their needs.”