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By Evan Sherwood
Thursday, August 13, 2009
SACRAMENTO — In response to state funding cuts, administrators voted Thursday to begin removing children from the Healthy Families program effective Oct. 1.
The move came after legislators voted to cut funding for the program in last month’s budget revisions. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger then cut an additional $50 million from the program for cuts amounting to almost $194 million.
With the shortfall, the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board meeting in Sacramento found it necessary to remove children from the program in order stay within its budget.
“The board is required by law to operate within existing revenue,” said Deputy Director of Health Policy Ginny Puddefoot.
Children will be removed from the program based on their annual anniversary date of enrollment. Families will receive 30 days notice before they are removed, with the first notices going out in September.
There are 21,118 children in Ventura County who subscribe to Healthy Families, which provides healthcare to low-income families.
Health Care Agency Director Michael Powers told the Ventura County Board of Supervisors Tuesday that about 13,600 children in the county would lose coverage.
Children’s health advocates opposed Thursday’s move, saying the board should postpone sending out the notices.
Suzie Shupe, executive director of the California Children’s Health Initiatives, said reductions in coverage would be a terrible blow to families.
“Families are extremely confused and frightened about what is going to happen to their kids.” Shupe said.
Not all children will be removed and some can’t be cut.
“Children who are in the California Children’s Services program and who are in that program only because of their participation in Healthy Families will be exempt from disenrollment. Those are children who have significant health issues of one kind or another,” Puddefoot said.
The board voted to cut children despite an announcement in the middle of its meeting that the First 5 California Commission would give $81.4 million to help Healthy Families.
First 5 is a state commission that uses money from a 50-cent cigarette tax to fund programs for children.
Board executive director Lesley Cummings welcomed the money, but said it was not enough to prevent the board’s actions. She said almost $92 million would be needed just to postpone the cuts for another month.
Additionally, First 5 money will only go to children younger than 5.
Cliff Sarkin, a policy associate at the Children’s Defense Fund, disagreed that $92 million would be needed. He told the board it should take more time to consider the $81 million before voting for the cuts.
“A vote today would be too soon,” Sarkin said. “It was less than an hour ago that you were given $81 million. There is time to discuss what that means.”
First 5 said its contribution should help insure 200,000 infants and children. Before the $81 million contribution, the board estimated that nearly 670,000 children would need to be removed from Healthy Families, which now ensures over 922,000 children.
Healthy Families stopped taking new enrollees in July after the board voted to begin a waiting list.
As of Aug. 11, there were 55,202 children on the waiting list.
Click here for original version of this article
Source: Ventura County Star
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