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Policy Pick: Protecting the Health Care Safety Net for Children

September 28, 2009
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Since February, more than $60 billion dollars has been cut from the state's general fund account. These budget cuts have directly impacted young children and families by slashing funding for safety net services like the Healthy Families health insurance program for children. In the last weeks of the legislative session, advocates for children and state elected officials have worked closely together to ensure the Healthy Families program was not completely dismantled.

Along with an $81.4 million allocation from the First 5 California Commission, Assembly Bill 1422 will help keep the Healthy Families program intact for at least one more year. AB 1422 will:

  • Extend the sunset date on a tax on placed upon Medi-Cal Managed Care plans until January 2011. The money collected from this tax will draw down additional dollars from the federal government that will be used to administer the Health Families program.
  • Allow families, based on income levels, to share more of the cost of coverage by increasing premiums and co-payments on services provided through the Healthy Families program.
  • Grant the First 5 California Commission the flexibility to transfer funds among specific accounts to pay for health programs for children ages 0-5.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed AB 1422 (Bass, D-Los Angeles) into law last Tuesday, and praised the state Senate and state Assembly for their swift action.

Please contact Howard Jacobs at hjacobs@first5la.org if you would like additional information on AB 1422. First 5 LA encourages letters of appreciation on AB 1422 to Senate pro Tempore Steinberg and Speaker Bass for their leadership on this issue as well as to the Governor for signing AB 1422.

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Comments

Tue, 09/29/2009 - 08:22 — Anonymous

What Swift Action?

I don't understand how you can consider what the legislature did as a swift action when the funding became a serious problem in February. Regarding the comment above,I don't see that much to be thankful about. Yes there are advocates for children but they need more power to be effective.
Mon, 09/28/2009 - 13:09 — Anonymous

Thank Goodness

Thank goodness there are people still looking out for the long-term health of the economy through the lens of its most important componant... THE FUTURE.

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