“There is a lot to be proud of in this budget,” said Assemblymember Jim Wood (D-Santa Rosa). “This budget continues paying down debt, adds to reserves and is a fiscally responsible budget that will help many more Californians.”
During the recession many Medi-Cal services for disadvantaged Californians were cut or funding reduced, including dental, podiatry, optical services and more. This budget restores many of those programs and funding. “There is still work to do to fully fund programs for our most vulnerable seniors,” said Wood. “Although my requests to fund senior nutrition programs and services that allow seniors to remain at home rather than in a nursing home came through, I was disappointed that funding to increase the ombudsman program for nursing homes was not. Putting more money in that program can protect the health and safety of seniors rather than dealing with problems after the fact.”