Op-Ed by Renee White Fraser, Ph.D. CEO & President of Fraser Communications and United Way Woman Leader.

The Legislature and the Governor have made a laudable effort to reform health care this year. But, with the holidays fast approaching, the “Year of Health Care Reform” will soon be over. If our state leaders want to end this year with a win on healthcare reform, they need look no further than covering all kids. With broad political support, it is an important piece of healthcare reform that can easily be accomplished in the remaining weeks of 2007.

Providing all children with health insurance is certainly good public policy on its own merits. Kids with health insurance are more likely to get the care they need to ensure their healthy development through preventive care, immunizations to prevent diseases, and regular checkups with primary care physicians. And, studies have shown that kids with insurance stay healthier, perform better in school and become more productive members of society.

Covering all kids is widely supported across party lines and across constituencies, and is strongly supported by California voters. In fact, a recent poll by the California Endowment found overwhelming support for children’s health coverage with 76 percent of voters citing it as their top healthcare concern. So, it’s easy to see how passing a reform this year would clearly help create a positive tone for further health care negotiations.

Politics aside, if the only thing legislators do this year is cover all children, they will have still made big strides towards overall reform by reducing costs and by protecting the public’s health. Consider that the cost of providing insurance for a child is less than $100 per month, while the average emergency room visit is $435. Or that every dollar spent on childhood immunizations saves $13 down the road. Moreover, children without insurance are in our schools and part of our communities. When they get sick, it puts everybody’s health at risk. By providing health insurance to all children, we are protecting the health and future of all Californians.

Statewide, if Legislators don’t take action this year, even more of California’s kids are at risk of losing health insurance, and we will lose the gains we have made in reducing the number of uninsured children. We can’t afford to move backwards when health and preventive care so critical to a child’s growth and development. And, from a big picture perspective, we can’t afford not to take this critical step forward on healthcare reform.

There are diverse interests including business, healthcare providers, community leaders, United Way and others who are committed to working hard in the final weeks of 2007 to find a way to cover all children. Legislators and the Governor should join them and commit to getting kids done this year. It’s a win that benefits all of us.