PPIC Publishes Report on California’s Health Care Safety Net

The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) recently published a brief on California’s health care safety net. The brief highlights the various programs and providers that comprise the state’s health care safety net, primarily serving individuals with low incomes, no private insurance, and other special medical needs.

PPIC assesses the expansion of the health care safety net over recent years, including through Affordable Care Act (ACA) and undocumented immigrant coverage expansions. The brief further explores the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the safety net, identifying declines in visits and service utilization throughout the pandemic. Lastly, PPIC highlights the critical role of county hospitals and primary care clinics in addressing equity gaps in coverage and care statewide.

The full PPIC brief is available here.