Overview
- The City Journal investigation, published Wednesday, alleged San Francisco shelters house transgender-identifying undocumented migrants seeking hormones, implants and surgeries through Medi-Cal.
- Reporters said they interviewed residents identified as Lyca, Alondra and Jacqueline at MSC‑South and the Embarcadero SAFE Navigation Center, who described receiving cross-sex hormones and, in one case, state-funded breast implants.
- The California Department of Health Care Services responded Thursday that the reporting contained significant errors and mischaracterized eligibility and benefits.
- DHCS said Medi-Cal pays for gender-affirming care only for full-scope members when the care meets medical-necessity standards based on established clinical guidelines.
- Outlets citing state figures reported roughly $9 billion a year for health care for undocumented people and about 1.7 million with full-scope Medi-Cal, with coverage expanded in January 2024 and a new bill proposed after a January pause on some new adult enrollments.