BUDGET CUTS AND BILLS AFFECTING CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS June 2010 WHAT CAN WE DO?

OUR MISSION: Secure, quality, affordable health care for all Californians. Statewide health consumer advocacy coalition. Support advocacy by health consumers Policy research, analysis & development Public education Media advocacy Grassroots & legislative advocacy

Steps Forward: National Health Reform The national health reform law (PPACA) provides new opportunities for better & more affordable coverage for children and young adults with high health care needs. Young people can stay on their parents coverage up to age 26 (9/23/10). No more denials for pre-existing conditions (children now, adults in 2014, temp high risk pool for adults ‘til then) Standards for insurance, preventive care must be covered Subsidies for families under 400% FPL & small biz Rate review and regulation Income-based cap on out of pocket expenses, ban on lifetime and annual limits No more rescissions

Steps Forward: National Health Reform – continued Expand Medi-Cal to non-disabled childless adults up to 133% FPL Funds Healthy Families through 2015 Reduces Medi-Cal paperwork doing away with SARS for kids Eliminates asset test for Medi-Cal Raises the revenues needed to sustain and expand Medicaid & Healthy Families Prevents states from cutting Medicaid and Healthy Families eligibility

Steps Backward: State Budget Cuts HEALTHY FAMILIES Raise monthly premiums from $24 to $42 per child for families at % FPL ($36,600-45,800 for a family of 3) Raise ER co-pays from $15 to $50 New hospital co-pay of $100/day with a $200 maximum Eliminate coverage of eyeglasses & other vision care IHSS $750 million “cost containment” package tba

Steps Backward: State Budget Cuts MEDI-CAL (Adults Only): New copays for hospital stays ($100/day up to a maximum of $200), ER visits ($50), doctor visits ($5) and Rx ($5) Limit doctor & clinic visits to 10/year; Limit Rx to 6/month (except for life-saving drugs); Eliminate OTC coverage; New copays for hospital stays ($100/day up to a maximum of $200), ER visits ($50), doctor visits ($5) and Rx ($5) - continued -

Steps Backward: State Budget Cuts - continued ADULT MEDI-CAL (21+) - continued Annual cap on coverage of supplies & equipment including: hearing aids ($1,510), DME including wheelchairs, ambulation devices, bathroom equipment, hospital beds and accessories, communication devices, IV equipment, oxygen and respiratory equipment ($1,604) incontinence supplies ($1,659) Eliminate coverage for legal immigrants who have resided in the US for less than five years

The Family Recovery Budget: A Better Choice for California Create jobs, preserve the jobs we have and invest in Californians Maintain health and other vital services for children, families, seniors and people with disabilities. Close corporate tax loopholes to protect vital services

Legislators Are Responding Assembly Jobs Budget (Perez & Blumenfield, 5/25) No cuts to education or HHS Raises $10b by closing corporate tax breaks, creating an oil severance tax and securitizing the recycling fund Senate Revenues proposal (Steinberg & Ducheny, 5/24) Fewer cuts to HHS Raises $4.9b by closing corporate tax breaks and raising taxes on the middle class Extend the personal income tax “surcharge” & reduced dependent tax credit Raise VLF to 1.5% Increase alcohol tax

This is crunch time CA has to pass state legislation to implement many of the national reforms. CA can go further and create reform that better reflects the needs and values of California. CA has to pass a balanced state budget by this summer. CA can balance its budget without destroying health and other vital programs for kids & families Your Voices Can Make the Difference!

What You Can Do 1. POST your state legislators’ phone numbers on your refrigerator door: 2. CALL your state legislators at least once a week TELL them what you want & ASK them what they’re going to do 3. JOIN a group meeting with your state legislator in his/her local office: for a schedule of upcoming 4. COLLECT postcards calling for a Family Recovery Budget from your friends, family, co-workers and other parents, & hand-deliver them to your local legislators. Customizable postcards are at

Connect with your local HHS Network Bay Area: Thurs 6/3 March for Budget Justice, Powell BART. Contact Santa Barbara: Thurs 6/10 Central Coast planning mtg for July action, 1030 Southwood Dr, SLO. Contact access.org LA: Tues 6/15 March for Budget Justice, 4: S. Spring, St. Contact Redding: Fri 6/18 CA Commission on the Status of Women public hearing, Redding Library. See for more info. Fresno: Contact for next Bakersfield: Contact for next San Diego: Contact for next