Budget Solution Must Protect Health Care For Children

Main Category: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 03 Jun 2009 - 4:00 PST

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Dr. Dev GnanaDev, president of the California Medical Association, issued the following statement after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger called on the state Legislature to swiftly enact his proposed budget cuts.

"California's physicians respect the grave condition of the state's finances and the difficult decisions faced by lawmakers on how to eliminate a $24 billion deficit. The final budget solution, however, cannot include slashing health care for children, the poor and the unemployed if California is serious about resuscitating its economy and getting the most out of its spending.

"The Governor has proposed eliminating the Healthy Families Program, which provides health care to 900,000 children from low-income families. By becoming the first state in the nation to end this highly successful program, California will miss out on $500 million in annual federal funding and jeopardize the growth and development of many kids who aspire to be tomorrow's leaders.

"The Governor has also recommended cutting more than $1 billion from Medi-Cal, the government health care program for those living in poverty. Medi-Cal, which primarily serves children, pregnant women and senior citizens, is already dangerously underfunded, causing serious gaps in access to care for the 6 million Californians who depend on it. No one, especially children, should suffer from the want of health care.

"Without these vital services, as many as 2 million additional Californians will be forced to put off visits to a doctor at a risk to their own long-term health and a greater cost to taxpayers. Lack of standard health care translates into more visits to overcrowded and expensive emergency rooms. These cuts block many Californians from living healthy, happy and productive lives and undermine our state's economic recovery."

The California Medical Association represents more than 35,000 physicians in all modes of practice and specialties. CMA is dedicated to the health of all patients in California.

Source
California Medical Association