December 12, 2005
For Immediate Release

STATEWIDE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INITIATIVES RECEIVE MAJOR BOOST IN HEALTH CARE FUNDING
Alameda Alliance for Health Receives Award to Expand Health Care for Local Children

Alameda, CA - Children's health care providers received welcome news today with the announcement by The California Endowment that it was awarding $7.5 million in grants to local Children's Health Initiatives (CHI) in eighteen counties across California, including more than $2 million for San Francisco, Alameda, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Napa and Sonoma Counties. In all, the grants will provide sufficient funding to cover nearly 8,000 children across the state with health care coverage. However, local leaders stressed that a permanent, long-term policy solution is needed to sustain gains made in enrolling children into health insurance programs, and to provide health coverage to the more than 800,000 remaining uninsured children in California.

"Today, California takes another step toward covering all of its kids," said Robert K. Ross, M.D. a pediatrician and President and CEO of The California Endowment. "The Endowment is proud to support counties across California who are doing their part to make sure all of their kids are receiving the health care coverage they desperately need and deserve"

Locally, Alameda County residents will benefit from a grant awarded to Alameda Alliance for Health (Alliance) that will provide health coverage for 1,100 children through the Healthy Kids program.

"The first years of a child's life are crucial for future success in school and life. Optimizing children's health by providing health coverage is an essential part of the equation," said Mark Friedman, Chief Executive Officer of First 5 Alameda County. "While locally, we are all working hard to provide coverage for our children, these efforts are limited. To truly support our children we must find broader, long-term solutions to providing access to health care."

In addition to the 1,100 children in Alameda County, The Endowment's announcement adds nearly 8,000 children statewide through their local CHI's in Santa Clara, San Francisco, Riverside, San Mateo, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, Kern, Santa Cruz, Alameda, Fresno, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo counties. Since they began in 2001, Children's Health Initiatives have provided direct coverage to more than 80,000 children in California, and have helped enroll an estimated 80,000 children eligible for either the state-run Medi-Cal or Healthy Families programs. Today, nearly 90 percent of children in California are insured through either a CHI, public or private health insurance program.

"As a community-based health plan, the Alliance is dedicated to providing the highest quality health care to our County's most underserved populations. Our Healthy Kids program is entirely locally funded and this grant, and others that we've received, allow us to expand our services while reducing the number of uninsured children in our community. With additional funding the Alliance can increase enrollment in Healthy Kids, but until that happens the program is limited by the funds we receive," said Ingrid Lamirault, CEO of Alameda Alliance for Health.

The CHI's enroll children into Medi-Cal and Healthy Families programs, and also make available a local Healthy Kids program intended for children ineligible for public programs. The Healthy Kids program provides comprehensive health care, including medical, dental, vision, prescriptions and mental health benefits for children from birth to age 18 in families with incomes below 300 percent of the federal poverty level (400 percent in San Mateo County) who are ineligible for Medi-Cal and Healthy Families. The programs require a modest premium or enrollment fee and co-pays.

"Lack of access to quality health care services impacts the overall health of our community." said Alameda County Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker, who also chairs the Alameda County CHI. "With the funds awarded by The Endowment, we can ensure that the Healthy Kids Program will provide Alameda County's children with essential preventative services in the most medically efficient and cost effective manner."

Each Children's Health Initiative is a public/private partnership of health care providers, business leaders, advocacy groups, foundations, city and county officials, public health leaders, and educators. A complete list of grant awards and a breakdown of recipient counties, in addition to recent studies on Children's Health Initiatives can be downloaded in PDF format at www.covercaliforniaskids.org.

About The California Endowment
The California Endowment was established in 1996 to expand access to affordable, quality health care for underserved individuals and communities, and to promote fundamental improvements in the health status of all Californians. The Endowment makes grants to organizations and institutions that directly benefit the health and well-being of the people of California. For more information, visit The Endowment's Web site at www.calendow.org.

About the Alameda Alliance for Health
Alameda Alliance for Health, established in 1996, is a local not-for-profit, state-licensed health plan providing low-cost and no-cost comprehensive health care services to more than 93,500 Alameda County residents. The Alliance's Healthy Kids program is funded by The California Endowment, the California HealthCare Foundation, Alameda County Tobacco Settlement funds, Alameda County Measure A funds and First 5 Alameda County. For more information on the Alliance and its programs, visit www.alamedaalliance.com. # # #

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