Citation URL: http://www.urban.org/ErikoWada

The Los Angeles Healthy Kids program, during its first four years, extended comprehensive, affordable coverage to over 40,000 poor and vulnerable children, and improved their access to and use of care. Yet, the program also faced serious challenges, primarily related to financing. Funding for children ages 6 through 18 ran short in spring 2005 and Healthy Kids capped their enrollment. State health reform efforts that could have stabilized funding for the program have failed. Based on interviews with over 40 stakeholders, this case study analyzes the complex challenges that the Los Angeles Healthy Kids program faces at this critical juncture.

Health planners must invest in programs to maximize effectiveness and reach communities with the highest need. They often lack data to rationally allocate resources based on need. Using data from multiple sources, this study asks whether the resources devoted to outreach activities and the subsequent enrollment services are aligned with estimates of uninsured children among service planning areas and health districts in Los Angeles. Funds for outreach have been relatively well allocated in proportion to the distribution of uninsured children. Differences within SPAs, particularly with respect to outreach contacts and applications completed, were more noticeable. This suggests that some reallocation of outreach investment could lead to expanded coverage in some communities.

The Los Angeles Healthy Kids program extends health coverage to uninsured children from birth through age 18 in families with income below 300 percent of the federal poverty level who are ineligible for Medicaid or SCHIP. Results from the first case study report on Healthy Kids implementation indicate that the program is off to a very positive start. Researchers found that the program's effective community-based outreach and simplified enrollment have fueled strong enrollment, its benefits package and managed care provider network were carefully designed to meet the needs of vulnerable children, and that Healthy Kids has been implemented smoothly.

A series of focus groups with parents of children enrolled in the Los Angeles County Healthy Kids program found that the program is providing families with a highly valued service in the form of comprehensive health insurance coverage, permitting their children easier access to care, making health services more affordable, and increasing options for where and when to obtain care. The groups explored parents' feelings about and experiences with Healthy Kids, which extends coverage to uninsured children from birth through age 18 in families with income below 300 percent of the federal poverty level who are ineligible for Medicaid or SCHIP.

A series of focus groups with parents of children enrolled in the Los Angeles County Healthy Kids program found that the program is providing families with a highly valued service in the form of comprehensive health insurance coverage, permitting their children easier access to care, making health services more affordable, and increasing options for where and when to obtain care. The groups explored parents' feelings about and experiences with Healthy Kids, which extends coverage to uninsured children from birth through age 18 in families with income below 300 percent of the federal poverty level who are ineligible for Medicaid or SCHIP.

The Los Angeles Healthy Kids program extends health coverage to uninsured children from birth through age 18 in families with income below 300 percent of the federal poverty level who are ineligible for Medicaid or SCHIP. Results from this first case study report on Healthy Kids implementation indicate that the program is off to a very positive start. Researchers found that the program's effective community-based outreach and simplified enrollment have fueled strong enrollment, its benefits package and managed care provider network were carefully designed to meet the needs of vulnerable children, and that Healthy Kids has been implemented smoothly.

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