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Campaign Update
Friday, February 15, 2008

For Now, Medi-Cal Red Tape Rejected – But Legislature to Act Soon on Budget Proposals that Threaten 350,000 Children

Governor Schwarzenegger's 2008/09 budget proposal undercuts his commitment to reform the state's health care system and to provide health insurance for all California children. These proposals would result in over 350,000 children losing health coverage, increasing the number of uninsured children by nearly 50%. It simply makes no sense for California to adopt a budget that puts children's health at risk, wastes taxpayers' money, and forfeits substantial federal funding for health care in our state.

UPDATE: On February 13th and 14th, the State Senate and Assembly Budget Committees voted to accept some of the Governor's proposed cuts affecting children's health. The Committees approved a 10% rate cut for most Medi-Cal providers and plans, which could limit access to health care for children and families. The full Senate and Assembly are expected to vote for the Committees' recommendations today. Fortunately, the Legislature has rejected most of the Governor's proposals to cut children's health – for now. Over the next few weeks and months, the Legislature will take up the Governor's remaining, and potentially severe, proposals. These include:

  • The reinstatement of Quarterly Status Reports that would increase red tape for Medi-Cal enrolled families and result in 286,600 children losing coverage;
  • An increase in cost-sharing for children enrolled in Healthy Families;
  • Limited dental benefits for children enrolled in Healthy Families; and
  • Funding cuts to counties, which will cause delays in processing families' health coverage applications and renewals

For more information on the impacts of the Governor's budget proposals, please see:

It is essential that you voice your opinions on these dangerous budget proposals. Contact the State Senate and Assembly Budget Committees early and often. We will keep you up to date as the Legislature continues to debate these harmful cuts.

For more information, please contact Krystal Moreno Lee at klee@childrennow.org or 916-443-1680.
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The 100% Campaign, a collaborative effort of The Children's Partnership, Children Now and Children's Defense Fund, was created to ensure that all of California's children obtain the health insurance they need to grow up strong and healthy.
www.100percentcampaign.org

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.
www.picocalifornia.org