Addis Secures Funding for Physician Workforce at Cal Poly

SAN LUIS OBISPO-Assemblymember Dawn Addis (D-Morro Bay), Chair of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Health, announced a $1 million appropriation in the 2026-27 California State Budget for Cal Poly to conduct a study evaluating long term solutions to address healthcare workforce shortages on the Central Coast.

"One of the most urgent needs across California is healthcare - and that starts with the ability to see a doctor," said Addis. "Through numerous committee hearings, I have fought to secure funding that invests in increasing the physician workforce on the Central Coast, and I am proud that we are delivering for California, especially at a time when H.R. 1 is rolling back healthcare in ways we have not seen before."

Based on input from healthcare providers and residents, this study will evaluate current physician shortages, barriers to recruiting and retaining healthcare providers, and future workforce needs. It will also examine the feasibility of creating a medical school campus on the Central Coast.

"Central California is fortunate to have exceptional healthcare providers, but the shortage of medical professionals remains a significant challenge for our region," said Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Armstrong. "Access to healthcare is critical to attracting and retaining talented individuals, supporting economic development and ensuring vibrant communities. Cal Poly is proud that Assemblymember Addis invited us to partner on this feasibility study, and we look forward to exploring solutions that help attract and retain healthcare providers in our region. We hope the findings will not only benefit Central California but also provide a model for other rural communities facing similar workforce challenges nationwide."

In addition to the funding for Cal Poly, Addis secured funding to expand behavioral health services on the Central Coast, including for individuals living with severe schizophrenia. This follows a series of hearings and panels that Addis oversaw during the winter and spring to identify key gaps in California's and the Central Coast's continuum of care. Investments Addis and her colleagues in the Legislature funded in the budget include the following local programs:

1. $5 million for CenCal Health, to oversee a new pilot program in San Luis Obispo that will provide treatment for individuals living with severe schizophrenia and anosognosia.
2. $2 million for Transitions Mental Health Association to recruit and retain behavioral health professionals serving individuals with severe mental illness in San Luis Obispo.
3. $2 Million for Central Coast Medical School Loan Repayment Program to help subsidize medical school tuition for students living on the Central Coast.

Dawn Addis was elected to the California State Assembly in 2022 to represent the coastal 30th Assembly District, which includes San Luis Obispo, Monterey, and Santa Cruz Counties. She is the Chair of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee 1 on Health.

CONTACT: Alexis Garcia-Arrazola, (831) 649-2832