Monterey supervisors back SEESAC plan, urge state help to blunt HR1 cuts

Monterey County supervisors voted unanimously on April 7 to authorize the chair to sign a joint county letter backing a California State Association of Counties (SEESAC) request for state funding to blunt the effects of HR1, a federal restructuring of eligibility and financing for major safety‑net programs.

The board’s action followed a briefing from Nicole Hollingsworth, the county’s legislative program manager, and presentations from local health and social‑services leaders. Hollingsworth summarized SEESAC’s analysis that HR1 could shift roughly $9.5 billion in costs to California and counties, expand verification and work requirements, and remove financing tools that have supported public hospitals.

“Under the proposed legislation, approximately 1.5 million Californians could lose coverage and counties would remain legally responsible for indigent care,” Hollingsworth said, urging supervisors to support SEESAC’s mitigation package. Natividad Medical Center representatives and county health staff told the board the proposed changes would sharply reduce net county hospital revenues and increase demand for local services.

Roderick Franks, director of Social Services, estimated that Monterey County could see 12,500–19,000 residents lose coverage because of new work and community‑engagement requirements alone, and stressed the administrative workload and costs counties would absorb to implement new redetermination and verification cycles.

County and hospital leaders described how the state’s redirected health‑realignment and other funding mechanisms would leave gaps if HR1 takes effect without state partnership. Dr. Harris, speaking for the public hospital system, called HR1 “an existential threat” to indigent care and Natividad’s mission.

After discussion of the draft SEESAC letter and directions to insert local impacts, Supervisor Allejo moved and Supervisor Daniels seconded a motion to approve the letter with the requested local data and editorial corrections; the board approved the motion unanimously.

What’s next: the county will provide local numbers to the SEESAC draft and forward the letter to state lawmakers and the governor’s office as counties press the Legislature to identify funding and policy fixes before the May budget revisions and anticipated early June votes.

Sources: Monterey County budget workshop presentations; remarks by Nicole Hollingsworth, Roderick Franks and county health officials.