AHN Staff
Sacramento, CA (AHN) - Unless California legislators and the governor find $17.2 million, thousands of California children may not receive health care.
This early, the Health Families program has incurred a $17.2 million deficit for the fiscal year then will end June 30 as the program attracted over 27,000 new children enrollees monthly. So far over 900,000 California children who do not qualify for Medi-Cal coverage has been enlisted.
But unless fresh funds come in, Health Families may be forced to stop enrollment for the first time in a decade, warned Lesley Cummings, executive director of California's Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board, which runs Health Families.
If no funds are forthcoming and more children enroll in the program, coverage will be stopped for those already in the program, Cummings said. The board will deliberate on Cummings' recommendation on Wednesday, when it is expected to vote in favor of a freeze enrollment in view of the $11.2 billion state budget gap.
If the freeze enrollment, to take effect Dec. 18 covering almost seven months from December to June, pushes through it will deprive 162,000 California children of health care services. Because of its negative impact on the children's wellness, Wilma Chan, vice president for Children Now, called on California lawmakers and officials to place high priority on children's health and to continue providing funds to Health Families.
Article © AHN - All Rights Reserved
|
