MHPA, Leading Association Representing Medicaid Health Plans, Issues Statement on...

MHPA, Leading Association Representing Medicaid Health Plans, Issues Statement
on Proposed California SCHIP Elimination

WASHINGTON, June 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Medicaid Health Plans of America
(MHPA) Executive Director Thomas L. Johnson issued the following statement
regarding the proposed elimination of California's State Children's Health
Insurance Program (SCHIP), called "Healthy Families":

"The Governor's proposal to eliminate the Healthy Families program would be
unprecedented. Making reductions in children's health coverage when the
federal government has just approved a major expansion in SCHIP and is
considering further coverage expansions for children would be a move backward.
MHPA member health plans have strong concerns with the proposal and urge
Governor Schwarzenegger to reconsider his plan to eliminate coverage for more
than 800,000 children in California," said Johnson.

Last week Governor Schwarzenegger proposed a set of spending reduction
proposals that included phasing out Healthy Families as soon as possible.
MHPA and its member health plans pledge to work with the Governor to find
other ways to deal with California's multi-billion dollar budget deficit that
doesn't cause low-income children to lose their medical, dental and vision
coverage.

A recent report by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found children with
health insurance were three times more likely to visit a doctor's office
during the course of a year than uninsured children, and far more likely to
have a regular check-up to keep them healthy. The report also found 41% of
uninsured kids with chronic health needs forego needed care, compared with 10%
of those in public insurance programs.

Medicaid Health Plans of America or "MHPA" is the leading trade association
solely focused on representing Medicaid health plans. Founded in 1993, MHPA's
mission is to develop and advance public policy that controls costs and
improves access and delivery of quality health care to Medicaid members. For
more information, visit www.mhpa.org or email mhpa@rcn.com.
Contact: Karen Seidman; karen@seidmansays.biz
(202) 364-8134; fax (202) 364-0131

SOURCE Medicaid Health Plans of America

Karen Seidman of Medicaid Health Plans of America, +1-202-364-8134,
+1-202-364-0131, karen@seidmansays.biz