California Eyeglass Benefit Under Threat Again as Budget Cuts Target Medi-Cal

Eyeglasses may be short-lived as a benefit under California’s Medicaid program.

Eyeglasses were restored just months ago to Medi-Cal’s list of covered services. They’d been off the list for years, a casualty of the Great Recession.

But a revised state budget released last week would cut eyeglasses along with many other services, such as hearing exams, physical therapy and podiatry, CBS 8 reports.

The proposed cuts come as COVID-19 continues to affect the state’s economy. It’s estimated they would save $54.7 million, according to CBS 8.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said the cuts can be avoided if the federal government provides enough money to maintain the services.

“When there is a recession, the Medicaid program always faces difficult choices. They went after the usual suspects,” said John Baackes, CEO of LA Care Health, an insurance plan for Medi-Cal participants in Los Angeles County.

Read more at CBS 8