Health Care/Reform

Huffington Post Blog

Wendy Lazarus outlines the main "ingredients" for succes that matter the most for kids under the ACA.  "Our collective job over the months ahead is to make good decisions on behalf of the millions of children in this country who are not at these decision-making tables but whose well-being -- and even lives -- depend on making the right choices."

Download the full piece here.

Download submitted comments from The Children's Partnership and our consumer advocate partners regarding the Exchange's March 21, 2013 proposed eligibility and enrollment regulations for the Individual Exchange (Covered California). 

The Children's Partnership supports SB 126 (Steinberg) which will extend the provisions of California’s Autism Insurance Mandate Law (SB 946) for an additional five years until July 1, 2019.

Download the letter of support here. 

The Children's Partnership joins over 360 organizations on a signed a letter to the President and Members of Congress in support of access to health care and nutrition assistance for all Americans, including immigrant families.

Download the letter here.

Download TCP's submitted comments to CMS on the proposed Online and Paper Model Applications, CMS-10440.

Capitol Weekly

Wendy Lazarus urges California's Health Benefit Exchange to deliver a "first-class consumer experience," as we count down to the opening of Covered California and enrollment for health insurance under the ACA. 

Download the full opinion piece here.

The Children's Partnership signed-on with other child advocates to support the elimination of a waiting period currently under the Proposed Rule pertaining to Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Programs, and Exchanges, CMS-2234-P. 

Download the full letter here.

Download submitted comments from California's Children Advocates to CMS on proposed rulemaking regarding streamlining and seamlessness under the ACA, CMS-2334-P.

The Children's Partnership joined the Children's Defense Fund and other child advocacy organizations on a letter to HHS on a new health care law requirement that former foster care youth be covered by Medicaid to the age of 26. 

Download the letter here. 

Download TCP's submitted comments to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, HIT Policy Committee, regarding Stage 3 Meaningful Use criteria.

The Children's Partnership signed-on with Community Catalyst as one of 193 groups from thirty-four states and Washington, DC urging the Democratic Congressional Leadership to protect Medicaid in the current budget debate to avert the fiscal cliff. 

Download the full letter here.

The Children's Partnership joined the California School Health Centers Association, the National Assembly on School-Based Health Care, and other children’s advocates in support for a $50 million appropriation, in the President’s FY 2014 budget, dedicated exclusively to school-based health center (SBHC) operations.

Download the letter to Secretary Sebelius here. 

The Children's Partnership signed-on with NHeLP and other California child advocate organizations to voice comments and concerns about California's Section 1115 Waiver Amendment Request regarding the Children's Health Insurance Program Transition to Medicaid Program. 

Download the letter here . 

Kristen Golden Testa presented implications and benefits of ACA for California’s children with special needs.

Download the Power Point presentation here.

The Children's Partnership joined national and state children's advocates supporting Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA-eligible individuals having access coverage in the Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) as well as through the Exchanges. 

The Children's Partnership developed a new factsheet on the CHDP Gateway, with recommendations on incorporating it as part of California’s implementation of the ACA and further strengthened to serve as an important pathway for meeting the health and enrollment goals of health care reform while maintaining its ability for children to access needed services.

The California children’s health coverage coalition applauded Governor Jerry Brown for signing several pieces of key legislation that move health care reform forward in California but also expressed disappointment that other key bills affecting children’s health were vetoed. 

“We are deeply concerned that the governor has put the brakes on these two critical elements of the Affordable Care Act. Putting an end to discrimination against those with pre-existing health conditions is a hallmark of health reform, as is protecting the children who are most in need of affordable health insurance. This decision by the governor is not acceptable for California’s children and needs to be remedied,” said Wendy Lazarus, Founder and Co-President of The Children’s Partnership in a joint press release . 

The Children's Partnership submitted a letter to Governor Brown, urging his signature of SB 970 (de Leon).  SB 970 would integrate the process of applying for health coverage with public programs such as CalFresh and CalWORKS. 

Download TCP's submitted comments on Draft Elements and Supporting Statement for Data Collection to Support Eligibility Determinations, CMS-10433, CMS-10438, CMS-10439 and CMS-10440.

Download TCP's submitted comments  to the California Health Benefit Exchange on Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP), regarding employee/employer plan choice and navigators.

Download TCP's submitted comments  to the California Health Benefit Exchange on Service Center Options.

Download TCP's comments on child-only plans , submitted to the California Health Benefit Exchange.

Santa Monica, CA, June 28, 2012 -- "America’s children won today," declared Wendy Lazarus, Founder and Co-Presdient of The Children's Partnership. "By upholding the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Supreme Court has sided with making health coverage a reality for children across the United States. Nearly all of the nation’s 75 million children have already benefited or will soon benefit from the ACA. As a result of the Supreme Court’s decision, millions of parents will continue to have the peace of mind that comes from knowing that their children can get health services when they need them. Now, as we put this historic decision behind us, we will work with public and private sector leaders to implement the ACA effectively so it meets its potential to give kids a healthy start in life." 

Read the full statement here.

The Children's Partnership joins a broad coalition in a statement urging the Legislature to vote "no" on Health Families elimination.