Financing State Coverage Expansions

Jocelyn Guyer and Cathy HopeCenter for Children and Families

John BoumanSargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law

Linda KatzPoverty Institute

Organization of Workshop

• How do we respond to concerns about costs in difficult economic times?

• Ammunition for success

• How do we talk about it?

What States Have Done

• General Revenue

• “Sin” Taxes – Cigarettes– Alcohol– Soda– Gambling

• Health System Taxes – Provider/ Hospital Taxes– Premium Taxes

• Phase In Expansions

The Importance of Coverage

Preventing Unnecessary Hospitalizations• California’s Children’s Health Initiatives

(CHIs) prevented more than 6,000 avoidable hospitalizations over a 5-year period

The Importance of Coverage

School attendance and performance

• In Missouri, children enrolled in MC+ for Kids had 39% fewer school absences

• In one study, enrollment in California's Healthy Families program was associated with an almost 70% improvement on factors relating to school performance, such as paying attention in class and keeping up with school activities

The Importance of Coverage

Cost of One Pediatric Asthma Hospitalization = $5,493

Total Cost of Providing SCHIP to One Child = $1,847

The cost of just ONE preventable hospitalization is equivalent to providing about THREE children with a full year of insurance coverage and access to care to prevent such a hospitalization.

Communication withPolicy Makers

Direct(Behind Closed Doors)

Indirect(Through Media Filter)

Children’s Health Advocate Calls For Cutting Medicaid for Seniors

The Headline:

VISION

ASK

BARRIER

VALUE

Creating a Compelling Message

Last year, our state made a commitment to

cover all kids

We can’t abandon children just when they

need us most

Our elected officials should exercise leadership by

fulfilling their commitment to our kids

Now more than ever, parents need the peace of mind

that they can continue to get

affordable coverage for their kids

Advocate Says:

Downturn Squeezes Family BudgetState Leaders Should Sustain KidCare

The Headline: