|
Families in Crisis:
Caring for Seriously and Terminally Ill Children
An estimated 2 million children live with life-threatening illnesses in the United States. Ten percent of those seriously ill children are right here in California.
Approximately 184,000 California children have a serious or terminal illness, and only a fraction are in a privately funded health care programs. Most are in publicly-funded programs. Few programs serve the total medical needs of these children. Today, coverage represent a patchwork package of benefits available through Medi-Cal, regional centers California Children’s Services and, state-based waivers.
While these options address the needs of some children, they fall short in addressing a larger need for very sick children -- over time, representing a significant and catastrophic financial and clinical resource drain on the healthcare system serving children and families unless a better solution is created.
California leads the nation by passing legislation that will provide one of the most comprehensive state waivers. Incorporating expanded eligibility, a new range of services, and multiple delivery systems, AB 1745 takes a significant step to address the larger need for a federal entitlement program.
Please join us in a serious of discussions about how state action relative to AB 1745 will contribute to addressing the needs of children and families, and why federal programs like SCHIP aren’t enough for this most critically ill population of children.
Sign up to keep informed about the next series of discussions.
Sincerely,
John Golenski
Executive Director
George Mark Children’s House
|
