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Yesterday, 3.5 million California children who depend on Medi-Cal were at risk of losing their health coverage. Today, those children and their families can breathe a sigh of relief because the U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill that extends critically-needed federal Medicaid funding to 30 states, including $1.3 billion for California. This funding will enable California to continue to offer health care services through Medi-Cal to our state’s neediest children and their families.
“United Way of the Bay Area is committed to ensuring all children have access to health care. Our staff and volunteers have worked hard these last few weeks to urge Congress to pass this important bill. We are thankful to Speaker Pelosi and California’s Congressional delegation, who demonstrated leadership by voting to extend FMAP,” said Lorne Needle, deputy chief community investment officer of United Way of the Bay Area. “This additional funding will help California legislators create a state budget that preserves programs that support the health and safety of our children.”
The bill (HR 1586) extends the Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAPs), which determine the amount of federal funds available to match state expenditures on certain social services, including medical care and insurance. Now that funding for FMAP has been extended, the nation’s neediest children and their families will continue to have access to community clinics, public hospitals, and other health care provisions.
To learn more and join United Way’s advocacy and public policy work visit our website: http://www.uwba.org/mobilize.
Photo courtesy of isafmedia via Creative Commons license.
