December 16, 2004
For Immediate Release

Alameda Alliance for Health Awarded $950,000
Funding will expand needed health care coverage for low-income Alameda County residents

Alameda, CA- Alameda Alliance for Health (Alliance) has been awarded $950,000 in funding from The California Endowment, the California HealthCare Foundation and Measure A. The funds will be used to support the Alliance’s efforts to provide low-cost health care coverage to Alameda County residents.

According to the 2003 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS 2003), there are 782,000 children without health care coverage in California. The Endowment awarded $500,000 to the Alliance to provide health care coverage to low-income children 5-18 years of age, regardless of immigration status, who do not qualify for Medi-Cal or the Healthy Families program. The Alliance is among 10 Children’s Health Initiatives (CHIs) throughout the state chosen to share in the health grants totaling $4 million over the next 12 months.

“Children are the most vulnerable population among the state’s approximately 6.5 million uninsured. While we are developing a comprehensive plan to provide health coverage to all of the state’s residents, we can make incremental improvements to the system and help address the health coverage needs of all children,” said Robert K. Ross, president and chief executive officer of The California Endowment. "This premium subsidy funding represents a transitional investment by The Endowment until a sustainable statewide solution is implemented."

The California HealthCare Foundation (CHCF) awarded a one-time health insurance subsidy grant of $200,000 to the Alliance to support and extend health care coverage to underserved, low-income Alameda County residents.

According to Marian Mulkey, senior program officer for the CHCF’s Health Insurance program, "Alameda Alliance for Health has been a leader in developing and extending coverage to children and adults who lack affordable health coverage options. CHCF is pleased to provide one-time support to them in sustaining these efforts."

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors approved $250,000 in funding to the Alliance through Measure A, the health care services initiative. Measure A was created to provide preventive and mental health services to indigent, low-income and uninsured children, families and seniors in Alameda County. These funds will allow the Alliance to provide health care coverage for children.

“Because the lack of health coverage is a problem throughout California and our own County, we must
all work together to broaden health coverage and take steps toward an overall solution to this crisis,” said Ingrid Lamirault, chief executive officer for the Alameda Alliance for Health. “We applaud these organizations for contributing to the expansion of health care coverage in Alameda County and are proud to have been identified as a source to provide these much needed services.”

The Alliance has also received grants from: Blue Shield of California Foundation, Alameda County Tobacco Settlement Funds, United Way Workplace Giving Campaign and the McKesson Foundation.

Contact:

Bobby Pena
916-440-0980
bpena@bpcubed.com

Amanda Flores-Witte
510-747-4555 x 4005
AFlores-Witte@alamedaalliance.com

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