Sacramento, CA (January 7, 2016) — Today, California Governor Jerry Brown released a proposed budget for the 2016–17 budget year. Mayra E. Alvarez, the new President of The Children’s Partnership, responds on behalf of The Children’s Health Coverage Coalition:
“We are pleased that the budget reflects the Governor’s continued commitment to health for all children in California, regardless of immigration status. Children enrolled in health coverage are more likely to graduate from high school and contribute to our state’s economy.
“We urge the Administration to ensure timely implementation of coverage with a May 1 start date. The health of children cannot wait. We look forward to continuing to work with the Department of Health Care Services to clearly communicate this new enrollment opportunity to families and to reach every uninsured child in California.
“As the budget deliberations continue over the next several months, we also call on Governor Brown, the Legislature, and interested stakeholders to finalize the Managed Care Organization tax deal in order to move forward with important health priorities, including Medi-Cal provider rate increases. With more than half of California children enrolled in Medi-Cal, we need to ensure there are enough doctors, dentists, and specialty providers to give children the services they need in a timely manner. By increasing Medi-Cal provider rates, which are currently among the lowest in the country, we will encourage providers to participate in the Medi-Cal program so children can access care when they need it.”
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