Sacramento
800,000 uninsured children of California are still without coverage. As everyone is well aware by now, large health reform went down with a Senate Health Committee vote that killed the Governor’s and Speaker’s reform package. While stakeholders and opinion leaders are spinning and trying to decide what to do next, United Way and others are staying on course to raise the urgency of need for our children. Kids Can’t Wait. One year in the life of a child can make a huge difference in their ability to succeed in life. Untreated illnesses and chronic conditions can make it impossible for a child to thrive and learn.
While strong support of our goal to Cover All Children has been voiced by the vast majority of opinion leaders, policy makers and voters, money continues to be the major stumbling block. Our United Way principles for children’s coverage solution have been part of every major package and more importantly, the substance of two excellent bills last year. These bills (AB1 and SB 32) are still on hold in the legislature but they do not have a funding vehicle and with the current fiscal crisis in California, it is unlikely one will be found.
At the same time, most Children Health Initiatives (Healthy Kids) have waiting lists and frozen enrollment. We are down to approximately 81,000 children enrolled in CHIs for the high of 87,000 two years ago.
Budget cuts threaten children’s coverage even more. We were successful in helping advocate for setting priorities in this budget crisis and eliminating some of the more harmful changes in the mid-year cuts passed today. However, the 2008-2009 budget is still ahead of us. While everyone supports the goal of going forward, we need to ensure we stop going backwards!
Many options are being considered that should become clear in coming weeks. We will keep you informed.
We know how to insure kids, we have the programs to build on, its inexpensive (and a good investment) AND we know it works!
Washington DC
SCHIP (State Children’s Health Insurance Program) was extended last fall until March 2009, with enough additional funds to keep all states’ programs whole. This year, our United Way regional advocates are meeting with 500 additional constituents to build awareness of the importance of a strong SCHIP reauthorization and to ask them to work with us towards that goal.
However, there is one major issue that needs addressing now. In August 2008, an administrative directive from CMS (Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services) greatly harming the ability of twenty two states to maintain their programs will take effect if we do not work to suspend it. (See attached report CMS Directive, Moving Backwards). We will be asking our partners and volunteers to speak out to suspend the language in this directive until the larger reauthorization debate.
Advocacy in Action Opportunities
It is essential that you voice your opinions on the damaging budget proposals. Contact the State Senate and Assembly Budget Committees early and often. Look up California Legislators in your area here.
Speak Out in Sacramento
On the Budget: Let your legislator know that causing more children to lose coverage is unacceptable and that the budget must not be devastating for them.