LifeLong Medical Care’s 165 union-represented providers are weighing whether to strike, with a possible walkout as soon as Monday. The Oaklandside reported that ballots were expected to be counted Sunday and that a strike could begin Monday if authorized. Pickets were reported at two Oakland centers; LifeLong also has clinics in Berkeley, Richmond and San Pablo.
The immediate question for patients is how many visits, if any, would be disrupted. LifeLong CEO John Jenkins told Oaklandside that 852 patients across the network were scheduled for appointments Monday. That is a measure of potential exposure, not a count of appointments that would be canceled or affected.
Pay talks sit within a wider reimbursement debate
Compensation remains unresolved. Oaklandside reported that Jenkins described the parties as close to an agreement and said management had agreed to 29 improvements over the previous 15 bargaining sessions, with pay still outstanding. The outlet reported the union’s account of the pay proposal as a one-time 1.5% increase over a three-year contract, paired with a bonus program.
The dispute over financial disclosure is separate from what public records can establish about LifeLong’s finances. KALW reported that union negotiators sought access to the organization’s books; leadership shared a high-level profit-and-loss statement while discussing federal and state Medicaid policy changes. Oaklandside reported that LifeLong expects lower reimbursement in 2026 as fewer patients are covered by Medi-Cal.
Statewide figures give policy context, but do not show how Medi-Cal changes affect LifeLong specifically. The California Health Care Foundation reported that Medi-Cal enrollment fell by about 730,000 people statewide between June 2025 and March 2026. Separately, the California Department of Health Care Services’ state plan describes dyadic-service payments to federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics as additional to a member’s applicable Prospective Payment System visit rate. That describes part of the reimbursement framework; it does not establish LifeLong’s financial outlook.
A previous strike offers a limited comparison
LifeLong providers also walked out in June 2023 after contract talks stalled. Berkeleyside reported that roughly 140 doctors, nurse practitioners, psychiatrists and other providers took part. The earlier action shows that a work stoppage has occurred at the organization before, but it cannot predict whether the current vote will authorize another.
LifeLong’s location directory lists health centers in Oakland, Berkeley, Richmond and San Pablo, as well as Pinole and Rodeo. The broader footprint helps describe the network’s reach, but does not identify which locations or appointments would be affected by a strike.
