Date:
October 27, 2026 21
To:
Board of Supervisors
Title
Authorize a Safety Net Bridge Pilot Program to Address Anticipated Gaps in Services for Residents Disenrolled from Benefit Programs (Districts: All)
End
Overview
Under new federal and State guidelines from House Resolution 1 (H.R. 1), many San Diego County residents may face reduced or lost CalFresh and Medi-Cal benefits, leading to a growing gap in access to food, continuity of primary care, and access to prescription medication. Based on local Medi-Cal enrollment data and projections from the California Department of Health Care Services, it is estimated that beginning in March 2027, 68,761 of the 309,939 San Diego County Medi-Cal recipients subject to new work and community engagement requirements will be at risk of losing Medi-Cal coverage. The County of San Diego (County) does not currently provide primary care, limiting its ability to serve as a fully integrated safety net without new investments or partnerships.
On November 4, 2025 (12), the San Diego County Board of Supervisors (Board) directed the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to explore opportunities to establish a Safety Net Bridge program. This program would provide no-cost primary care medical services, same-day prescription medication, and access to fresh food to address anticipated gaps in services due to shifts in federal and state policy. In response, County staff conducted a preliminary Safety Net Bridge Feasibility Analysis and shared the results to the Board via a memorandum on February 5, 2026, which included an assessment of the anticipated impacts of H.R. 1, an analysis of existing County and community resources, a summary of received community input, and potential options to support San Diego County residents who may become or have been disenrolled from benefit programs.
On March 24, 2026 (27), the Board received the Safety Net Bridge Feasibility Analysis Report and authorized the CAO to develop an impleme...
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