Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #120559

Gregory D. Stevens, PhD, Division of Community Health, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, 1000 S. Fremont Avenue, Building A7, Rm 7411, Alhambra, CA 91803, 626-457-4049, gstevens@usc.edu and Michael Cousineau, DrPH, School of Family Medicine, Division of Community Health, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, 1000 South Fremont Avenue, Building A7, Room 7430, Alhambra, CA 91803.

Over 800,000 children remain uninsured in California. In many counties, local organizations and funders have come together to try to expand coverage to children who are eligible for existing program, and develop new products for those who are not. This paper presents the findings of the first wave of a longitudinal survey of counties in California to assess the level of local engagement and support for expanding health insurance to children. Specifically, the survey measures which counties have developed or are developing a county-organized children's health initiative, the stage of development of the initiative, the level and time frame for funding to support the initiative, the breadth and depth of the coalition, leadership, provider networks, role of safety net providers, eligibility parameters, premiums and premium subsidies, approach to outreach and enrollment, and relationship to state health insurance programs, and outcomes. The paper will present data on their current status, (which are enrolling children, which are in various stages of development, which are in early planning phase). Twenty two counties have developed or are developing a children's health initiative. However, only ten are actually enrolling children. Level of support from local foundations, statewide foundations, First5 (Proposition 10) commissions, local Medi-Cal managed care plans, and tobacco settlement dollars support the development of these initiatives.

Learning Objectives:

• increase knowledge of the extent of childrens' health initatives in California

Keywords: Access and Services,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation