Frommer’s efforts get clean bill of health

Children at the New Horizons Family Center gave their stamps of

approval to a couple bills Thursday morning that officials say would

provide healthcare to all California children.

With red, green, yellow and blue paint on their hands, children

stamped their prints all over a banner asking Gov. Arnold

Schwarzenegger to sign Assembly Bill 772 and Assembly Bill 1199 on

Oct. 9.

“Kids can’t vote, but I think most people would agree that as a

society, we have to make sure all kids can see a doctor,” said

Assemblyman Dario Frommer, who co-authored the bills with

Assemblywoman Wilma Chan (D-Oakland).

AB 772 would create the California Healthy Kids program, which

would streamline existing health care programs, such as Medi-Cal and

Healthy Families, to offer coverage to all the state’s uninsured

children, Frommer said.

AB 1199 would help fund the California Healthy Kids program by

collecting public and private donations and asking the government to

match those donations, he said.

“In a state as prosperous as California, there’s no excuse for a

child to be unable to see a doctor when they’re sick,” Frommer said.

The state spends about $6 billion a year in health care costs for

the millions of uninsured people in California, 1 million of whom are

children, Frommer said.

If passed, the bill could save California an estimated $100

million in the first three years, said Wendy Lazarus, founder and

co-president of the Children’s Partnership, an organization that

supports the bill.

Not only would the state benefit from healthy children attending

school more regularly, but if the bills pass, the state would also

save on emergency room costs, because children would be able to see a

doctor under the California Healthy Kids program before a condition

worsens, Frommer said.

The program, though initial first year start-up costs are

estimated at $17 million, would cost state residents only $10 to $12

a year to fund, Frommer said.

Community members can give their opinion by calling (916)

445-2841.