*********************************************************************** Californians for Healthy Kids Update - June 13, 2006 *********************************************************************** http://www.caforhealthykids.org State Budget News on Children's Health Coverage On June 10, California's Legislative Budget Conference Committee approved a compromise plan for children's health insurance. This package is the first step in allowing the state to move smoothly and quickly to a statewide solution for affordable children's health coverage, pending passage of the Tobacco Tax Act of 2006 this November. The Conference Committee decided, among other things, to: * Provide approximately $23 million to insure children through local Children's Health Initiative programs. * Provide state resources of nearly $2 million to begin establishing a statewide, comprehensive health care program for children in families with incomes at or below 300% of the poverty level. * Provide financial incentives to community-based providers who help children enroll in health coverage via the use of electronic applications. All observers are expecting an on-time budget this year - that is, the Legislature's passage and the Governor's signature before the July 1 fiscal year start date. We will continue to keep you informed as the budget process unfolds. The Californians for Healthy Kids press release on the Conference Committee package is posted at www.100percentcampaign.org/newsroom/releases/2006/pr-060610.htm *********************************************************************** Child Health Insurance in the News Read a recent Los Angeles Times story about "the most promising moment in years for children's healthcare." "A Healthy Outlook for Children's Medical Care," Los Angeles Times, June 9 2006. www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-kids9jun09,1,5672828.story *********************************************************************** Other Ways to Support Children's Health Coverage * For more information about supporting the Tobacco Tax Act of 2006 - visit www.healthycalifornia.org . * To stay informed about our efforts to cover all California children, go to www.caforhealthykids.org and click on "get involved" to sign up for email updates. * Join a growing list of Californians for Healthy Kids supporters by signing on to our goals: www.100percentcampaign.org/issues/cahealthykids/cahealthykids- endorseform.htm (ENGLISH) www.100percentcampaign.org/issues/cahealthykids/cahealthykids- endorseform- spanish.htm (ESPAOL) * Permission to forward or reprint the content herein is granted with complete attribution. View back issues of this e-update on the Web at: www.100percentcampaign.org/resources/updates/index.htm *********************************************************************** Californians for Healthy Kids is a collaboration of the 100% Campaign (a coalition of Children Now, Defense Fund and The Children's Partnership), PICO California, and more than 300 supporters, with the goal of ensuring that all children in our state have access to affordable, comprehensive health insurance. ________________________________ You are subscribed to this list as rpineda@childrennow.org. Click here to unsubscribe, or send email to unsubscribe.97402.81985100.7682170858472170583- rpineda_childrennow.org@en.groundspring.org. Our postal address is 1212 Broadway, 5th Floor Oakland, California 94612 United States