House votes to give 10 million children health care
Written by Lake County News reports
Wednesday, 26 September 2007
WASHINGTON – On Tuesday night, Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA) joined other House members in voting in favor of bipartisan legislation that will extend the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) – known in California as Healthy Families – for five more years.
This bill has strong bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate, and it will allow 10 million American children to access health care.
“This bill is a prime example of Congress’ commitment to taking our country in a new direction,” said Thompson. “It maintains coverage for the 6.6 million children currently enrolled in SCHIP, and it provides states with the resources to cover an additional 4 million kids who are currently eligible for, but not enrolled in SCHIP. Democrats and Republicans have cast aye votes for this bipartisan legislation. By standing together in support of this bill, we have also stood firm for America’s children.”
The $35 billion reauthorization complies with House Pay-As-You-Go rules, meaning that it is fully offset and will not result in an increase to the deficit.
According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, it will result in the delivery of health care to more than 10 million children.
Healthy Families currently covers approximately 800,000 Californian children. These children reside in families that do not earn more than 250 percent of the Federal Poverty Level, which translates to less than $43,000 per year for a family of three.
“Investing in children’s health care is one of the wisest choices our federal government can make,” said Thompson. “Children have to be healthy to get an education and grow into productive adults. When kids see the doctor more regularly, they receive the preventive services that keep them healthier for longer – and they are less likely to end up in the emergency room, which saves everyone money. It’s a win all-around.”
The bill also provides incentives for states to improve their outreach and enrollment programs targeting children eligible for SCHIP and Medicaid. States will receive state-based allotments that are responsive to state demographic and national spending trends. States are also given the flexibility to improve both the dental services and the mental health benefits offered to SCHIP children.
“Earlier this month, we sent a bill to the president to lower the cost of college. This week, we will send him a bill that provides millions of kids with health coverage,” added Thompson. “His threats to veto this legislation are as foolish as they are shameful. A bipartisan Congress has put our children’s well-being at the front of its agenda. This bill is supported by 43 governors and hundreds of organizations, and I sincerely hope the president will put politics aside and sign it.”
LAKEPORT – The Sutter Lakeside Wellness Center for Health will offer a 10-week class and support group targeting weight management.
Based on participant comments and feedback, the Wellness Center made the program longer and have added more practical tools for those on the journey to a healthier weight.
The program will cover topics such as: gaining an understanding of the reasons behind over eating, how to build a realistic and effective exercise program into your lifestyle, how to develop a successful life long plan for weight management and how to shop, stock the kitchen and plan healthy menus and how to use and apply the new FDA nutrition pyramid.
The class has been expanded from one hour to one and a half hours to allow time for a 20-minute walk. Participants also will customize a program with a wellness coach to ensure that individual goals are tracked and met.
The class will be facilitated by Leslie Lovejoy, RN, Ph.D., Holistic Wellness Coach. Additional instructors include, Kathy DuChene, RD., dietitian at Sutter Lakeside Hospital; Joe Prisco, manager of Sutter Lakeside’s Rehabilitation Services; and Vera Crabtree, personal trainer and certified nutrition consultant.
Participants will receive handouts and exercises for each topic discussed and will be encouraged to actively participate in exploring methods for improving mental, emotional and physical health in a supportive and safe environment. Prior to the start of the class, participants will meet with Lovejoy to set up their individual program goals.
The class will meet on consecutive Fridays beginning Nov. 2nd from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the Healing House located at the end of the walking trail behind the Wellness Center on the Sutter Lakeside Hospital campus. There is a fee for this program however, scholarships are available.
For more information call the Wellness Center for Health at 262-5171.
SACRAMENTO – Thousands of state medical workers are soon to receive pay raises.
The increases, previously approved by the Legislature, will take effect once they are signed into law by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, and they will be retroactive to April 2007, according to a report from the office of North Coast State Sen. Patricia Wiggins' (D -Santa Rosa).
The raises were approved in part to help stem a staffing exodus which began in October 2006, following a court case (Plata v. Schwarzenegger) that triggered an 18-percent salary increase for medical and clinical staff at the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).
That decision had unintended consequences, negatively impacting the staffing capabilities of other state departments: the Department of Developmental Services (DDS), the Department of Mental Health (DMH) and the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (DVA).
Between July 2006 and March 2007, DMH lost 58 psychiatric technicians, psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers to various prison facilities, while DDS has lost more than 100 workers to CDCR this year.
“Due to the efforts of many, we have begun to address the issue of inequitable pay for medical and clinical staff at DDS, DMH and DVA in this year’s state budget,” said Wiggins.
She said there is now momentum on the issue, and it's important for people to recognize the linkages between CDCR and the other state departments. While the health care services within CDCR are improving, there is still a great reliance on state departments to provide necessary and specialized mental health services, disability recovery services and acute nursing care, Wiggins reported.
“It is imperative that all patients and inmates receive the best possible access to quality care,” Wiggins said. “Recruitment and retention of medical and clinical staff is a vested interest not only for all of the state departments, but for the people of California as well.”
She added, “I will continue to work towards ensuring long-term pay parity for workers at the Yountville Veteran’s Home, the Sonoma Developmental Center and Napa State Hospital.”
This past March, Wiggins co-authored a letter (signed by five other legislators with state medical facilities in their districts) to leaders of key legislative budget committees detailing the “critical need for additional clinical staff at state hospitals and other institutions.”
LAKE COUNTY – The Ombudsman Program of Lake and Mendocino Counties is accepting applications through Oct. 10, for the next Ombudsman training to be held in Ukiah beginning Oct. 12.
The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program investigates elder abuse complaints in nursing homes and residential care facilities for the elderly.
Ombudsman volunteers are adult men and women, from diverse backgrounds and experiences, who are selected for their concern about the safety and welfare of individuals living in long term care.
Ombudsman volunteers receive a 40-hour intensive training facilitated by the program coordinator. They also receive ongoing supervision and training.
For information and an application, contact Lori Sweeney, ombudsman coordinator, at 463-7950.
SACRAMENTO – While other legislators head off for winter break, Assemblywoman Patty Berg is preparing for her role in redesigning California’s broken health care system, having been appointed to a key group for a special session called this week by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Berg, who chairs the Assembly committee that oversees health spending, will be part of a seven-member working group consulting with Speaker Fabian Núñez as he negotiates a health plan with the governor and Senate.
“The North Coast is at the table,” said Berg, D-Eureka. “I’ll be there to give voice to our region’s desire for affordability and universality.”
Núñez, whose plans have been to expand healthcare access rather than create an entirely new system, said Berg and others will bring a “broad diversity of views” to the negotiations.
“These legislators will provide critical direction,” Núñez said.
Other members of the group are: Assembly members Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles; Hector De La Torre, D-South Gate; Mervyn Dymally, D-Los Angeles; Mark DeSaulnier, D-Martinez; Ed Hernandez, D-Baldwin Park; and Mary Hayashi, D-Hayward.
“We’re dealing with two major problems here,” said Berg. “One is access to care, and the other is how we’re going to finance it.”
Berg’s appointment continues her role as a key voice on health care reform.
She co-authored both major bills this session, the single-payer bill (SB 840) by Sen. Sheila Kuehl, D-Santa Monica, and the insurance expansion plan (AB 8) by Núñez and Senate leader Don Perata, D-Oakland.
Kuehl’s bill stalled as politically untenable this year, and although the Legislature approved the Núñez/Perata bill, the governor has promised to veto it. Left with no significant reform, the governor called the Legislature into special session so they can find a compromise.
Health care reform has proved a very difficult subject which ignites the concerns of patients, doctors, hospital operators, insurance companies, labor groups, businesses and local governments.
“Nobody said it would be easy,” said Berg. “Nobody said we’re going to get everything we want. But we’re certainly going to try.”
