Our joint statement with the CA Childrens Health Coalition on the signing of SB18 yesterday! CHILDREN’S HEALTH ADVOCATES APPLAUD GOVERNOR’S SUPPORT FOR MEDI-CAL ASSISTANCE A coalition of children’s health advocates today applauded the Governor’s decision to sign SB 18 (Leno/Hernandez). The Children’s Partnership, Children Now, the Children’s Defense Fund-CA, California Coverage and Health Initiatives, United Ways of California and PICO-CA joined together to thank the Governor for continuing California’s commitment to expanded health coverage. SB 18 provides for the state to accept $12 million in private foundation and federal funds to help with Medi-Cal renewals. “Governor Brown led the way on California’s implementation of the ACA and Medicaid expansion, and we are pleased to see that commitment extend to helping families keep their health coverage once they have it,” said Judy Darnell, Director of Public Policy at United Ways of California. “More than half of California’s children are covered by Medi-Cal, but they need to renew their coverage every year,” said Wendy Lazarus, Founder & Co-President of The Children’s Partnership. “New income requirements and a confusing renewal notice have slowed renewals, so this assistance program has come just in time.” “The $6 million from The California Endowment will be matched by $6 million in federal dollars, providing a needed boost to enrollment and renewal assistance efforts,” said Suzie Shupe, Executive Director of California Coverage & Health Initiatives. Governor Browns smart decision to use private funds to leverage millions of federal dollars without state contribution will allow California to help hundreds of thousands of low-income people to keep the health insurance they need, said Childrens Defense Fund-Californias Executive Director, Alex Johnson. ###
Posted on: Fri, 26 Sep 2014 20:13:16 +0000