AZ Politicians Must Restore KidsCare Now. No Delays. No Excuses

Arizona Budget Coalition urges quick action to avoid possible health care emergency. PHOENIX With only two months until the program is set to expire, the Arizona Budget Coalition (ABC) urges Arizona legislators and Governor Brewer to restore KidsCare immediately. Childrens Action Alliance, a founding member of ABC, launched an on-line campaign (www.bringbackkidscare.org) so Arizonans can find information about KidsCare and take action to ensure the safety of the program that helps kids grow up healthy and strong. The decision to eliminate KidsCare is a short-sighted approach to Arizonas budget crisis, said Dana Naimark, President and CEO of Childrens Action Alliance. Were going to see higher costs for doctors and hospitals as the rate of uncompensated care increases. More children are going to miss school because theyre sick, and their parents will miss work to care for them. But one of the biggest losses from the KidsCare cut is the health and success of our children - were taking from them a safe and healthy future. KidsCare has been an Arizona success story for more than 10 years, providing affordable health insurance to children of working families and helping them grow up healthy and strong. KidsCare brings in three federal dollars for every state dollar, making it a smart financial investment as well. Without reinstating KidsCare by June 15th, Arizona risks losing every federal dollar that helps provide health care to 1.2 million people in our state. Arizonas entire health care system is in jeopardy if we lose the $7 billion federal Medicaid dollars, which also hurts our prospects of economic recovery and could result in 42,000 lost jobs in the health care industry. Tim Schmaltz, Director of Protecting Arizonas Family Coalition, agreed. The state is risking every dollar of federal funding by eliminating KidsCare. Without that money, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System could not operate and could potentially be eliminated or phased out. Cutting KidsCare was clearly the wrong decision, said John Wright, President of the Arizona Education Association. Students cant learn if theyre not healthy and dont have access to a regular doctor. Arizona politicians have to admit they made a mistake and work quickly to correct it by bringing back KidsCare. No delays. No excuses. ABC Includes more than 50 organizations throughout Arizona standing for jobs, education, health and human services.