Arturo Vargas Bustamante

This data brief highlights key facts about CalFresh enrollees and examines the broader health implications of reducing funding to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); particularly, how proposed federal SNAP cuts threaten food access for millions of Californians and disproportionately impact Latino communities. The analysis draws on data from UCLA LPPI’s Latino Data Hub (LDH), which incorporates data from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS). Data from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) is also presented to provide additional insights.

Findings:  

• Nearly half (48%) of low-income Latino adults in California experience food insecurity. Research links food insecurity to poorer health outcomes and reduced ability to access care, impacts that CalFresh and Medi-Cal help mitigate.
• Latinos make up 55% of CalFresh participants statewide, underscoring the importance of the program to the state’s plurality.
• Among working-age Latino CalFresh enrollees (ages 18–64), 69% participate in the labor force — the highest rate compared to enrollees of other racial and ethnic groups. These data highlight that CalFresh is a critical support for working families, not just the unemployed.
• Children (ages 0–17) make up 40% of Latino CalFresh enrollees, compared to a statewide average of 33%, highlighting the program’s importance for child nutrition in California’s young Latino population.
• More than 3 million Californians are dually enrolled in both CalFresh and Medi-Cal, including 1.8 million Latinos. This high overlap  shows how CalFresh reduces financial strain and improves health access for families already facing structural barriers.

Authors aim to qualitatively assess the experiences that English and Spanish-speaking patients with Medicaid managed care encounter when scheduling a first-time primary care appointment, with a preference for telehealth, in the Los Angeles (LA), Houston and New York (NY) Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). Primary care offices were randomly selected to participate in this qualitative mystery shopper study. Two researchers listened and transcribed real-time calls between the mystery shopper patients and the receptionists at the primary care offices. Data collection occurred between April 8, 2024, and April 26, 2024.

Findings: Spanish-speaking patients who call to schedule a first-time primary care appointment are more likely to experience call transfers, be told to call back later, and encounter more telephone hang-ups, compared to English-speaking patients. Telehealth for first-time appointments is uncommon and typically available only under special circumstances, including COVID-19, medication refills, test result reviews, and for chronically ill populations.

This study shows disparities in access to care between English and Spanish-speaking patients at the time of scheduling a first-time appointment, highlighting an important point for future intervention.

Using enrollment data from California’s Department of Health Care Services, demographic data from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, and health outcome data from the 2019–2023 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), this data brief provides key facts on Medi-Cal beneficiaries and underscores the broader community and economic implications of reductions to Medicaid funding.

Findings:

• Disproportionate Impact on Latinos: Latinos make up 52% of Medi-Cal enrollees,  compared to their 40% share of the state’s population.
• Labor Force Participation: Latino Medi-Cal beneficiaries participate in the labor force at higher rates (63%) than other groups, yet work requirements could lead to 2.3 million enrollees losing coverage, over half of whom are Latino.
• Essential Workers: Over 1.4 million Latino Medi-Cal enrollees work in critical industries like hospitality, health care, and construction, often in low-wage jobs without employer-sponsored insurance.
• Youth and Seniors: Latino children account for 38% of Latino enrollees, while Latino seniors account for 35% of senior enrollees. Both groups rely heavily on Medi-Cal for regular health care coverage and long-term care.
• Chronic Conditions: Latino and Black enrollees face higher rates of diabetes (18%) compared to the general population (11%), with Medi-Cal providing vital care for managing chronic conditions.
• Geographic Impact: Counties like Los Angeles, Riverside, and Fresno, and congressional districts such as CA-22, CA-34, and CA-35, with large Latino populations, would face significant economic and health challenges from cuts.
   

This study examined racial and ethnic disparities in mental health service use, social support, and telemedicine access among U.S. adolescents between 2019 and 2022. Authors analyzed nationally representative data from the 2019-2022 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) Sample Child Interview, focusing on adolescents aged 12 to 17. Multivariate logistic regression models with survey weights were used to assess disparities in outcomes by race and ethnicity. 

Findings: From 2019 to 2022, despite rising mental health needs, Black, Hispanic, and Asian adolescents were significantly less likely than white peers to take prescription medications, receive therapy, or receive both treatments. Hispanic and Asian adolescents were also 9 and 15 percentage points less likely, respectively, to report receiving community support, while Black and Asian adolescents were 8 and 6 percentage points less likely, respectively, to have had a virtual health care appointment. 

Access to mental health services, virtual care, and community support remains disproportionately limited for racial and ethnic minority adolescents, even as overall mental health needs have worsened across all groups during the COVID-19 pandemic. The underuse of virtual care and community support among Hispanic and Asian adolescents underscores the urgent need for culturally responsive strategies to promote accessible and personalized mental health care for all adolescents.