Health and labor advocates in California are voicing strong opposition to Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposal to eliminate in-home nursing and care assistance for illegal immigrants from the state’s budget. The proposal is part of an effort to reduce California’s estimated $73 billion deficit to $7 billion.
Just The News reports that the state’s In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program, which provides essential personal care for elderly and disabled individuals, is at the center of the controversy. The program offers up to 283 hours per month of assistance with daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, housework, and meal preparation. For the fiscal year 2024-2025, Governor Newsom proposed a $9 billion allocation for IHSS, marking a $1 billion increase from the previous year.
The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) points out that beneficiaries of the IHSS program are responsible for hiring and supervising a paid provider, often a family member, at an estimated wage of $17.95 per hour.
Despite the expansion of Medi-Cal to cover all illegal immigrants starting in January, the governor’s proposal would eliminate IHSS coverage for these individuals while maintaining their access to most other Medi-Cal services. The left-leaning California Budget and Policy Center criticized the proposal, describing it as “harmful and xenophobic” and warning that it could push immigrant families deeper into poverty and increase long-term state spending on nursing home care.
The California Department of Social Services, which oversees IHSS, reported that only 3,000 illegal immigrants have been authorized for IHSS, with about 1,500 currently receiving benefits.
California’s expansion of Medi-Cal to include all illegal immigrants between 26 and 50 years old is expected to add 700,000 beneficiaries at an annual cost of $3.4 billion. Governor Newsom has committed to funding this program expansion despite the ongoing budget crisis. “We also want to maintain our health care expansion across the board, regardless of ability to pay, regardless of pre-existing conditions and your immigration status,” Newsom stated in his revised May budget proposal.
With demographic shifts indicating that one in four Californians will be 60 or older by 2030, the costs of programs like IHSS are projected to rise. This increase comes at a time when fewer workers are available to contribute taxes to fund these services, raising concerns about long-term sustainability. Declining birth rates further exacerbate this issue, leading to fewer future workers.
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Author: Sara Carter Staff
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