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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, September 22, 2005
For Media Assistance
Health Care Bills Would Help Secure
Health Coverage for 800,000 Uninsured California Children
Los Angeles, CA--The PICO California Project, the 100% Campaign,
the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, Assemblyman Dario
Frommer (D-Los Angeles), and other Los Angeles leaders joined
together today at the New Horizons Child Development Center
in Glendale to urge Governor Schwarzenegger to sign two key
bills that would begin to establish health coverage for all
children in California. The two health care bills, AB 772
(Chan/Frommer/Escutia) and AB 1199 (Frommer/Chan) await the
Governor's signature. Assemblyman Frommer was joined
today by parents, teachers, doctors and community health leaders
in calling upon the governor to sign the legislation.
"Today, it is within our reach to make
sure that every child in California has access to affordable
health care," said Wendy Lazarus, Co-President of The
Children's Partnership and spokesperson for the 100%
Campaign, a collaboration of Children Now, Children's
Defense Fund and The Children's Partnership. "The
people of our state want it. Our children need it. We know
the solutions. It's affordable. It's achievable. It's the
smart thing to do and the right thing to do. And it can be
done over the next three years."
The legislation, sponsored by PICO and the
100% Campaign, is a momentous step, building upon broad and
diverse support across the State. The bills are supported
by more than one hundred organizations ranging from businesses,
religious, and community leaders, to teachers, health care
organizations, children's advocates and health care
providers. The widespread support for securing health coverage
for California's children was evident at a Town Hall
meeting in April of this year that brought together 4,200
supporters from across the State.
Recognizing California's current budget
constraints, the legislation focuses first on improving the
efficiency of existing publicly-funded state insurance programs,
including modernizing and simplifying how children get enrolled
and stay enrolled in coverage. The majority of uninsured children
qualify for either Healthy Families or Medi-Cal, but they
are not enrolled.
"For not a lot of money, we can reach
a monumental goal," said Lisa Milton, executive director
of LA Voice, representing the PICO California Project. "We
currently waste tens of millions of dollars re-enrolling
eligible children. Removing bureaucratic obstacles can generate
significant state savings, which we could invest in children's
coverage. We will reach our goal by being smarter and getting
parents, government and the private sector to share the cost."
"Healthier kids mean a stronger economy
and a more productive workforce," said Rusty Hammer,
President/CEO of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce.
"With the rising cost of premiums hurting everyone,
the business community strongly supports these innovative
efforts to insure more children and make health care more
affordable. We are proud to be part of this broad coalition
in support of these two initiatives."
The initiative has received unprecedented
support from educators, since research has shown that children
with access to health care have higher attendance rates and
perform significantly better in school.
"Teachers can't teach to an empty desk,"
said Los Angeles eighth-grade teacher Mignon Jackson. "Healthy
children are better students. Access to affordable health
care and academic success will always be linked. This legislation
makes sure that all kids have a healthy chance to learn.
Just as California provides an education for every child
in the state, we can provide the opportunity for health coverage
for all children."
Key provisions of AB 772 include:
- Provides health insurance options for every uninsured
child in California
- Makes it easier for families to enroll and keep their
children covered
- Builds on the successes of local Children's Health
Initiatives (CHI's)
- Creates a system of shared responsibility for financing
- Phases in the program on a timetable consistent with
responsible management and available resources
AB 1199 (Frommer/Chan) will create the California
Healthy Kids Fund as a repository for public funds and private
contributions that would supplement existing state and federal
funds earmarked for children's health care.
Comprehensive health coverage for children
is cost-effective, promoting access to early, less costly
preventive care and treatment, and has widespread public support.
The 100% Campaign, a collaborative
effort of Children Now, Children's Defense Fund
and The Children's Partnership, with primary funding
from The California Endowment, was created to ensure
that all of California's children obtain the health
coverage they need to grow up strong and healthy.
The PICO California Project
is the united effort of 20 California congregation-community
organizations affiliated with the PICO National
Network. Collectively, we represent 350 congregations
and 400,000 families statewide and are actively
organizing in over 70 cities in Northern and
Southern California.
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