Families, Doctors Plead Against Cuts To Healthcare For Low-Income Kids

Relatives of children with chronic health disorders and the doctors who treat them pleaded with the Riverside County Board of Supervisors today to refrain from cutting a program that serves low-income youngsters.

During a hearing at the County Administrative Center, the board heard from beneficiaries of the California Children's Services program, which provides taxpayer-funded healthcare assistance for kids and young adults – up to 21 years of age -- who suffer from major health complications, including leukemia, cerebral palsy and heart disease.

In Lake Elsinore, 368 children and young adults currently receive assistance under the California Children’s Services program. In Wildomar, the number is 164.

The county Executive Office is proposing a 20 percent cut in general fund support -- about $1.3 million -- for CCS. All county departments are targeted for budget reductions to contain deficit-spending in the 2011-12 fiscal year. The county has drawn down reserves for the last three years to balance its budget.

Today's “Beilenson'' hearing -- named for former California lawmaker Anthony C. Beilenson -- was held to give people potentially affected by the proposed spending cut an opportunity to address the board.

“I understand you have tough choices,'' said Penny Slater, whose 3-year-old granddaughter Pearl is mentally and physically disabled. “But we would be lost without Pearl's therapists and teachers ... Cutting more means cutting her off completely.''

Pediatrician Dr. Tim Watson, who manages two clinics in Riverside and Perris that treat indigent kids, told the board that the proposed cuts could remove a “vital safety net'' for the “sickest of the sick.''

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,'' Watson said, pointing out the advantages of outpatient diagnostic and treatment services over emergency room care. “These cuts will open up a Pandora's box that's 10 times more costly to the county.''

CCS is state-mandated and administered by the county, which also kicks in between 17 and 50 percent of the funding, depending on a patient's household income, which generally cannot exceed 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Patients do not have to be uninsured to qualify.

According to state officials, CCS can be used in combination with Medi-Cal and the California Healthy Families program, both of which offer taxpayer-funded coverage for eligible residents.

Riverside County Department of Public Health Director Susan Harrington said countywide 11,500 children receive assistance under the program. She estimated 436 applicants for coverage would have to be denied to stay within the proposed
budget. The county averages 3,355 new cases each year.

Supervisor Marion Ashley vowed opposition to any cut.

“I don't care what the budget situation is. It's cruel and foolish to cut this program,'' he said, with concurrence from Supervisor John Tavaglione.

Supervisor Jeff Stone said CCS deserved “priority funding.'' But Supervisor John Benoit advised caution until the state's 2011-12 budget is known -- and the county will have a clearer idea of what it will be able to afford.

“We can't manufacture funding,'' the former state lawmaker said. “I really believe we have to look at all possible aspects of the county budget and make serious prioritizing judgments.''

Board Chairman Bob Buster said the hearing highlighted the need “to enforce budget discipline.''

“That's the way to avoid these kinds of hearings,'' he said.

The board will make a final decision on the county's 2011-12 budget next month. –City News Service and Toni McAllister contributed to this report