Chan Offers Bill to Boost Kids’ Enrollment in Public Health Programs

To help parents enroll their children in public-sponsored health plans, Assembly member Wilma Chan (D-Oakland) last week introduced a bill (AB 383) to provide "family health coordinators" at state-subsidized child care centers, the Oakland Tribune reports. Under the California Child Care Health Linkages Program, family health coordinators would help parents with applications for public health programs, such as Medi-Cal and Healthy Families. Greater enrollment would increase the rate of childhood immunizations, an issue that concerns Chan. She said, "It's really important that children get these shots, not only for their health, but in order to enroll in a timely way for kindergarten." California law requires children to have certain vaccinations before enrolling in school. Chan's proposal, which would cost $4 million-$6 million annually, "should move to the Assembly Health Committee next month" (Oakland Tribune, 2/22).