Action Alert

1. HEALTHY FAMILIES PROGRAM CUTS LOOM
2. BUDGET SOLUTION NEEDED TODAY TO KEEP FUNDS FLOWING TO CCS AND OTHER CRITICAL PROGRAMS
3. YOUR ACTION OPTIONS

1. Healthy Families Program Update

Advocacy by AAP-CA and others has clearly had an effect in Sacramento, as debate on the Healthy Families Program has shifted away from elimination of what many Legislators now term "an essential program".
That is the modest good news.
The looming bad news is that significant, even egregious cuts to the Healthy Families program are still on the table. While the reality may well be that cuts will happen, it is critical that we keep sending the message of the importance of Healthy Families, to mitigate the damage and to ward off elimination of HF resurfacing, as budget options narrow.

Specifics:
-The MRMIB Board voted yesterday to enact a waiting list for Healthy Families beginning July 17th, if funds are not found to fill an expected short-fall. No new kids would be enrolled from that date.
-The Governor has withdrawn his proposal to eliminate HF, which shows our advocacy in coalition with others is working, as Legislators across the political spectrum speak out in support of the HF program. However, the Governor has gone back to his initial, pre-May 19th election recommendation that HF eligibility be cut from 250% to 200%. Combined with the waiting list and other proposed cuts to the HF program, advocates estimate that the scope HF would be cut nearly in half, with over 400,000 kids losing coverage from the cuts

2. Budget Solution Needed TODAY for at least $3 billion to prevent IOUs

Beginning tomorrow with the new fiscal year, the state will be short at least $3 billion dollars for current obligations. It plans to issue IOU's for payments for CCS, student loans and other programs where federal regulations do not require payment. (In this respect, most Medi-Cal payments to providers seem to be protected, although we are verifying.)

3. Your Action Options

PLEASE CALL YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS TODAY AND URGE THEM (1) TO PRESERVE HEALTHY FAMILIES FUNDING AT CURRENT LEVELS SO THAT KIDS ARE NOT FORCED ONTO THE ROLLS OF THE UNINSURED, AND (2) TO FIND A SHORT-TERM BUDGET SOLUTION TODAY, SO THAT IOU’S DO NOT CAUSE FAMILIES TO LOSE ACCESS TO NEEDED CARE UNDER CCS.
To locate your legislators using your zip code, go to http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html

THANKS FOR YOUR CONTINUING INTEREST IN ADVOCACY FOR CHILDREN AND PEDIATRICS.
Kris