(May 12, 2011)   The Assembly Republican Caucus unveiled today the attached budget proposal that continues to reject extension of existing tax rates that will sunset on July 1st.  The Assembly Republican plan re-introduces cuts to long term care services and supports that were not adopted in the legislature’s budget actions earlier this year.  The Republican proposal assumes enactment of $1.3 billion in cuts that were part of Governor Brown’s January budget proposal with the following exceptions:

• Limits by Medi-Cal beneficiaries on physician visits, prescription drugs and durable medical equipment
• Multipurpose Senior Service Program (MSSP)
• Local library funding

The Republican plan recommends adoption of all other cuts contained in the Governor’s January budget proposal in the health and human services arena, including:

• IHSS: 8.4% reduction to assessed hours for all IHSS consumers and elimination of Domestic & Related Services for consumers in shared living arrangements
• Elimination of Adult Day Health Care
• Medi-Cal co-pays for physician, clinic, dental and pharmacy services
• Medi-Cal provider rate reductions for physicians, pharmacy, clinics, medical transportation, certain hospitals, home health and nursing facilities

The plan states that Republicans will provide additional ideas for budget savings if the estimated savings for these proposals has eroded since adoption of the March 2011 budget package.