Opinion Piece Calls for Universal Health Coverage for Children

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) "missed an opportunity" in his State of the State address "to make the smart investment in our state's human infrastructure: health care for all of California's children," Robert Ross, president and CEO of The California Endowment, writes in a Torrance Daily Breeze opinion piece. Ross continues that "it is not only unwise to exclude a segment of children from timely health care; it is, in fact, dangerous" and "an epidemic waiting to happen."

According to Ross, California would benefit financially from a "systemic health care plan for early and timely screening of various health problems in all children" by reducing emergency department visits. Ross concludes that the later health problems are detected in children, "the more we pay to remedy them" (Ross, Torrance Daily Breeze, 1/22).