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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
For Media Assistance
Health Care Bills Would Help Secure Health
Coverage for 800,000 Uninsured California Children
Salinas, CA--The PICO California Project, the 100% Campaign,
Assemblyman Dario Frommer (D-Los Angeles), Assemblywoman Wilma
Chan (D-Oakland), Assemblyman Simon Salinas (D-Salinas) and
other Salinas/Monterey area leaders joined together today
at the Salinas Child Development Center 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 Ted Lempert, president of Children Now and spokesperson
for the 100% Campaign, a collaboration of Children Now, Children's
Defense Fund and The Children's Partnership, in a statement
released at the event. "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.
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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