Sen. Kennedy Critiques California’s Medicaid System
Senator John Kennedy (R-Louisiana) recently criticized California’s Medicaid system, known as Medi-Cal, during a hearing. He raised concerns about reports suggesting that the state has been endorsing exorcisms and other faith-based healing practices. This has caught the attention of the Trump administration, which is investigating alleged fraud.
California’s Medicaid spending has more than doubled since 2019, swelling from around $100.7 billion to a forecasted $222 billion by 2026, drawing increased scrutiny on Medi-Cal’s expenditure practices.
Only a week ago, the Trump administration halted $1.4 billion in federal funding for California’s home health and hospice program after a fraud task force, led by Vice President J.D. Vance, uncovered approximately $600 million in suspected fraud within the state’s Medicaid system.
In his questioning of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Senator Kennedy expressed his frustration, asserting that taxpayer dollars are being used for not just exorcisms but also other religious practices often linked to the Catholic Church.
California’s Expenditures at the Center of Discussion
“California has seen a 12 percent population increase in the last decade,” Kennedy noted. “They’re funding exorcisms and other odd services provided by new medical providers. What is going on here? Why have we let this happen for so long?”
The reports regarding Medi-Cal’s coverage for spiritual rituals first surfaced in the Wall Street Journal. In 2024, coverage was broadened to include beneficiaries looking for traditional healers and natural helpers within tribal communities. California’s Governor Gavin Newsom indicated that taxpayer dollars now cover services such as music therapy and herbal treatments.
To qualify as a traditional healer in California, an individual must have served as a spiritual leader within an American Indian tribe for at least two years and have a contract with an Indian health care provider. Alternatively, anyone deemed a “trustworthy” member of a tribe can qualify as a natural helper.
Newsom explained that this expansion into tribal health coverage aims to assist tribes in healing from past traumas inflicted upon them. He highlighted that many issues faced by Native Americans today stem from historical injustices and that supporting access to traditional medicine is a step towards a healthier future.
As it stands, the extent of Medi-Cal’s expenditures on traditional healing services remains ambiguous, with the California Department of Health and Human Services yet to respond to inquiries regarding the matter.
