Governor’s Briefs: CA. Invests in Health Care Workforce, Infrastructure and Investigation of High Natural Gas Prices

California Announced $400+ Million in Grants to Invest in Health Care Workforce & Infrastructure

SACRAMENTO —The week of Feb. 6, Gov. Newsom’s administration announced more than $400 million in grants to build upon and expand the state’s nation-leading health care workforce and infrastructure. This represents part of the over $1 billion in health care workforce investments to strengthen and expand the state’s health and human services workforce contained in the recent budget.

This funding is essential as California works to address the behavioral health, mental health, and general health care needs of Californians.

Grant details

• Department of Health Care Services: $119 Million to 98 organizations to help local organizations build capacity and infrastructure in Medi-Cal’s delivery system (CalAIM).
• Department of Aging: $89 Million to 78 organizations to further the state’s commitment to growing a resilient caregiver workforce.
• Health Care Access and Information: $61 Million through 2,230 awards across 53 counties to support behavioral health students and professionals in advanced practice, nursing, behavioral health, and allied health professions.
• Health Care Access and Information: $59.4 Million to 23 schools to support social work education.
• Health Care Access and Information: $49.6 Million to 54 organizations to support 17 new and expanded programs and create 87 new residency positions across California.
• Department of Developmental Services: $22 Million to 75 community-based organizations and regional centers to improve equity, diversity, and service access to all Californians with developmental disabilities.
• Department of Health Care Services: $18 Million available to help students ages 18 and older gain practical on-the-job experience in behavioral health careers.

Gov. Newsom Calls for Federal Investigation of High Natural Gas Prices As California Provides Relief

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom took action Feb. 6 urging the federal government to investigate the recent price spike affecting the Western U.S. and highlighted the state’s action to provide relief to Californians.

In a letter to the federal agency responsible for regulating wholesale natural gas, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or FERC, the Governor requested that the agency “immediately focus its investigatory resources on assessing whether market manipulation, anticompetitive behavior, or other anomalous activities are driving these ongoing elevated prices in the western gas markets.”

Additionally, millions of Californians will soon see relief from high utility bills – with credits of $90 to $120 showing up on gas and electric bills as soon as next month. 

On Thursday, the California Public Utilities Commission or CPUC voted to accelerate the California Climate Credit to help California families with high gas bills. 

The CPUC and the California Energy Commission Feb. 7 will host an en banc hearing to examine the causes and impacts of the recent spike in natural gas prices.