Study: Healthy Kids Program Improves Medical Care
A study of three county Healthy Kids insurance programs found "consistent and dramatic" health care gains for children and families across three settings of evaluation, the Stockton Record reports (Goldeen, Stockton Record, 11/20).
Healthy Kids programs throughout California provide health care coverage for uninsured children who do not qualify for other government-funded health insurance programs. The majority of enrollees are undocumented immigrant children (California Healthline, 6/22).
The study, conducted by Mathematica Policy Research, found that children enrolled in Healthy Kids for at least one year experienced:
- Improved access to care;
- More frequent visits with specialists for preventive checkups and sick-child visits; and
- Fewer unmet medical needs.
The study also found a sharp rise in the number of parents who felt "very confident" their children could obtain needed care.
The study compared new data from Healthy Kids programs in Los Angeles and San Mateo counties with previously released findings from Santa Clara County's program.
Healthy Kids programs, which require a local sponsor, are offered in 25 of the state's 58 counties (Stockton Record, 11/20). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.