While I was in Oakland, California meeting with child health advocates on Tuesday, we received great news about a big step forward for kids (no, it was not that the Oakland Warriors won the NBA playoffs!). State legislative leaders and the Governor announced a budget agreement that included a commitment to expand health coverage to all low-income children, regardless of immigration status. We did not yet uncork the champagne, but I hope to celebrate after a vote in the legislature on Friday!

Under the budget agreement, coverage for all children regardless of immigration status would begin in May 2016. The expansion is projected to cost $40 million in the next fiscal year and $132 million when fully implemented. Immigrant children who are currently ineligible for coverage because of their immigration status would be enrolled in Medi-Cal, but the coverage will be paid for with state funds. According to the Berkeley labor center, up to 170,000 undocumented children under age 19 would gain coverage. In California, children in families with incomes up to 266 percent of the federal poverty level are eligible for Medi-Cal.

 This step forward builds on prior county efforts in California to cover all kids that showed that access to medical and dental care improved dramatically for children.

I am looking forward to sharing more soon!