LPOC’s Position Statement - Federal and State Healthcare Crisis

We are in a crisis. Our nation finds itself in an unprecedented, dangerous, and chaotic time in American History.  The current federal administration and the people they lead are deliberately unraveling decades of progress in health care rights, civil rights, economic rights, and the rule of law.  In the face of this turmoil, California stands as a leader defending the rights and well-being of all people, especially through its efforts to expand universal health care coverage.   

LatinX Physicians of California (LPOC) represents the LatinX physicians who have long been on the front lines advocating for social justice, and providing care to ensure the health and well-being of our communities.  Not new to this struggle, LPOC stands united and shoulder to shoulder with the state’s leaders, essential health care providers, and provider communities that wage the fight for health equity and health care coverage for all.   We know that when we fight, we win. The resounding statewide passage of Proposition 35 is proof of that power.   Now, it is clear we need to protect against the actions which undercut the health and wellbeing of 40 million Californians, and the nearly 16 million Latinos who live in California. LPOC is committed to joining these efforts for as long as it takes.

Towards these ends, LPOC vigorously encourages the following efforts:

1. Preserve access to care and protect Medi-Cal and Medicare.  
   LPOC strongly opposes reductions in Medi-Cal and Medicare funding.   Health Resource Administration (HRSA), and CA Department of Public Health (CA DPH) data clearly shows there are specific populations which experience excessive rates of morbidity and mortality, and poorer health outcomes compared to other populations in the US and CA.  The implementation of the California Advancement and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) has been transformative, and impactfully accelerated the integration of social services into health care delivery, and addressing health inequities for vulnerable populations. This has been the right prescription to eliminate health care inequities experienced by specific targeted populations including Black and Indigenous women and their children.  CalAIM ensures high quality health care is readily accessible for all Californians. 
   
   LPOC also supports the implementation of Proposition 35 (the MCO Tax) to support safety net practices and increase the number of residency programs for physicians in California. Additionally, there is an important business case which supports the health policy and public health policy case.  Reducing Medi-Cal funding destabilizes the state’s entire health care infrastructure and health care workforce.  Here’s how: Medi-Cal funding cuts will result in a direct reduction of the reimbursement rates paid to health care providers which will immediately impact hospitals and physicians.  Hospitals will need to reduce patient care programs and lay off their workforce to balance their already razor thin margins.  Small and independent physicians, the backbone of care for more than 60% of Medi-Cal recipients, will be especially hard hit. Doctors will be forced to delay implementation of important basic technology essential for effective patient care. 
   
   Correspondingly, there will be a dramatic reduction in the health care system’s capability to sustain essential clinical programs for all patients regardless of their insurance coverage.  Painfully, there will be cost shifting across the health care system. Hospitals, Durable Medical Equipment providers, pharmacies, clinical labs, home health agencies, long term care facilities, all will be forced to make up for their lost Medi-Cal revenue by shifting these service costs to commercial health plans.  In turn, these increased costs will be shifted to employers and their employees in the form of higher health care premiums.  Preserving Medi-Cal and Medicare is both a moral imperative and smart economic decision. 
   

2. Address the physician shortage— and particularly the critical shortage of LatinX physicians.  
   It is critical to recruit, train, and retain the future health professionals today, to manage the health care needs of tomorrow. In a period of reduced resources, the most cost effective and impactful business case for training future health professionals is to secure and enhance funding for pre-med post baccalaureate programs which have a proven track record of successfully matriculating highly qualified students into medical schools.   Additionally, ensuring consistent and adequate funding for the CA Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) scholarship, Graduate Medical Education (GME), and loan repayment programs are a proven, and cost-effective mechanism to support students enrolled in a health professions program, realize their commitment to serving in a health profession shortage area, in exchange for a period of patient care service in a designated underserved community. 
   
   In addition, we support the CalMedForce GME funding programs sponsored by Physicians for a Healthy California (PHC). However, these two impactful agencies are not enough to address CA’s current and future physician workforce needs.  There needs to be a meaningful expansion of the physician workforce pipeline.  LPOC enthusiastically applauds three important pieces of legislation that will do this: Assembly Bill 58, Assembly Bill 730, and Assembly Bill 2357.  AB 58, authored by Assemblywoman Esmerelda Soria,  calls for comprehensive funding for a future medical education program at the University of CA, Merced which would increase the number of new physicians entering the workforce every year.  AB 730 authored by Assemblyman Dr. Joaquin Arambula, ensures the allocation of funding to the University of CA Merced, Medical Education Collaborative to develop expanded learning opportunities, supplementary academic instruction, and high impact tutoring for students pursuing a health profession.  AB 2357 authored by Assembly member Dr. Jasmeet Bains, provides for a feasibility study to support the annual operating costs of developing and maintaining a branch campus of an existing University of CA School of Medicine in Kern County. Together, these 3 initiatives are the right steps to meet critical current and future physician workforce needs.
   

3. End the indiscriminate deportation of immigrants. 
   Immigrants regardless of immigration status are the essential muscle that drive CA’s economic engine creating the world’s 5th largest economy.  A 2025 economic research report co authored by Distinguished Professor of Medicine, and Director of the Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture, Dr. David Hayes Bautista, released data showing that Latino participation in the US economy contributed $4.1 trillion to the overall US economy in 2023. By itself, this Latino contribution to the US Gross Domestic Product (GDP) built the world’s 5th largest economy, which easily surpassed  India’s economy (2022-2023), and exceeded China’s economic GDP rate for the second year in a row (2022-2023).  In his publication, Dr. Hayes-Bautista states  “…. participation of Latinos in the US economy is more active, more intense than Non-Hispanic participation.”  
   
   The business case is clear:  mass deportation of these residents creates workforce instability and drains the economic vitality of the nation and the communities where they live.  The economic facts are clear and indisputable.  Regardless of immigration status, these residents work.  They work hard. They are consumers.  They contribute meaningfully to the sales tax base when they purchase groceries, gas, food, clothes, services.  They contribute to Social Security and Medicare through employment-based deductions. These residents are homeowners, and they pay property taxes. If they are renters, they lift their landlords who pay into the property tax base.  These residents are small business owners who are employers and contribute to the payroll tax base.  Immigrants are essential to sustaining an economically robust and healthy community. 
   

4. LPOC supports health care policies which fund, and advance population based, public health and health professions programs, and accept, incorporate, and implement established, rigorously peer reviewed, evidence based social science, natural science, and biomedical research into programs which ensure the health and wellbeing of all US residents. 
   National health policy must be based on data and evidence proven outcomes-not on partisan ideology.
   

5. LPOC supports policies which ensure human rights, economic rights, and civil rights for all people living in the US. 
   Specifically, this includes embracing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the workplace, in schools, and in universities.  By definition, and implementation, DEI is not divisive and does not perpetuate racism.  DEI is inclusive of all people, including low-income White Americans.  DEI reflects the spirit of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.’s American Dream. 
   

6. LPOC believes food is medicine. 
   LPOC calls upon the US Department of Agriculture to reverse the cancelation of the USDA Food Assistance Program.  Food insecurity is a social driver of health, and this vital program feeds millions of CA families who struggle each day to find enough food to live a healthy life.  This program is also an important economic lifeline for small and socially disadvantaged family farms. The dollars from this program allow food banks and other aid programs to purchase the crops and food from these local farmers which allows them to continue to plant and harvest fresh, healthy food.    
   

LPOC seeks to build power, not panic. LPOC remains steadfast in our commitment to health equity, social justice and universal health care for all Californians. We welcome, and embrace all individuals and organizations that share our concerns and priorities to join us in building a better, equitable, and healthier future.