The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 3 on Health and Human Services convened on May 1, 2025, to discuss the budget proposals and priorities for the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI). The meeting began with a brief acknowledgment of previous discussions on budget savings, setting a tone for a more conservative fiscal approach moving forward.

Elizabeth Landsberg, the director of HCAI, presented an overview of the department's budget. She reported that HCAI's current budget stands at $684 million, with a proposed reduction to $581 million for the upcoming budget year, reflecting a decrease of $103 million. This budget proposal includes a request for authority to add 62 positions, which would increase the total to 825 positions.

Landsberg emphasized HCAI's mission to enhance equitable access to quality and affordable healthcare for all Californians. She outlined the department's five program areas: facilities, financing, workforce, data, and affordability. A significant focus was placed on the data program, which has been collecting healthcare data for decades. HCAI disseminates crucial information regarding California's healthcare infrastructure and outcomes, including data on hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, clinics, and home health agencies.

Additionally, Landsberg highlighted the development of California's All Payer Claims Database, known as the Health Care Payments Data Program (HPD), and mentioned a budget change proposal aimed at securing ongoing sustainable funding for this initiative. She also noted that HCAI serves as the building department for hospitals and skilled nursing facilities, underscoring its role in ensuring the infrastructure necessary for healthcare delivery.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to further discussions on the budget and its implications for healthcare access and quality in California. The subcommittee will continue to evaluate the proposed changes and their potential impact on the state's healthcare system.