Access to health care ensures that individuals receive essential preventive, emergency, and specialty care services in addition to managing chronic conditions so that they can achieve a lifetime of good health.  Health insurance coverage, a robust health care delivery system, adequate physician and provider workforce, as well as affordability are all factors that affect an individual’s ability to access quality health care services.

In state capitols across the country, including our own, governors and legislatures are struggling to find ways to expand coverage.  While the feasibility and design of a state-wide universal health care coverage continues to be debated in Sacramento, health care leaders in Santa Cruz County have been working to increase access to health care and build a stronger delivery system at the local level.

The vehicle for these efforts is The Health Improvement Partnership of Santa Cruz County (HIP), which brings together diverse health care players to incubate solutions to address the health needs of the entire community.  HIP’s members include our local hospitals, private physician groups, the county’s medical society, our unique local Medicaid managed care organization (the Central Coast Alliance for Health), the County’s public health department, County Medical Society, local philanthropies and  private and public community health centers.

HIP identified increasing access to health care for all Santa Cruz County residents as a critical goal for our community.  They have partnered on many projects to impact access but one stands out as a singular achievement:  Healthy Kids of Santa Cruz County.  As part of a broader coalition that includes United Way, First 5 and other agencies, HIP made an early commitment to work together on the problem of the uninsured.  In 2004, Healthy Kids of Santa Cruz County was launched to provide affordable health insurance coverage to about 2,000 low-income children whose families are not eligible for other publicly funded care (such as Medi-Cal or Healthy Families/SCHIP).  In addition, Healthy Kids helped increase outreach and enrollment into public programs for an additional 7,000 children.  Our efforts have effectively linked children comprehensive medical, dental, vision and mental health services. 

In June 2007, Children Now reported that 98% of Santa Cruz County children had health insurance – putting us second in the State for kids’ covered.  In addition, other Counties who have launched similar Healthy Kids programs report that children miss less school days, have reduced unmet health care needs, and see a physician more often than before they were enrolled. 

Since the very beginning, the Community Assessment Project has been tracking access to health care in Santa Cruz and, for the most part, the trends are positive.  Growing numbers of residents say they have health insurance as well as a regular source of care.  Among Caucasian respondents, nearly 92% reported having health insurance (up from 89% the year prior) and 78% of Latinos surveyed said they were covered (up from 69% the year prior).  While these trends are positive, there is still an unsettling disparity between ethnic groups, between North and South County residents, and between low-income and middle/upper-income individuals.  And according to 2005 California Health Interview Survey data shared in the CAP report, nearly 30,000 Santa Cruz County residents remain uninsured.  In a 2006 community survey sponsored by HIP, the majority of respondents cited the uninsured and the high cost of health insurance as the number one health care problem in our county.

Whether you’re currently insured or not, healthy or not, in favor of various health care reform proposals or not – no matter what, each of us has a stake in the quality and capacity of our delivery system as well as the health and well-being of our neighbors.  Studies repeatedly show that the insured are healthier; individuals are more productive in the workforce; and children do better in school than their uninsured counterparts.  Community members can get involved on several fronts: 

Support Healthy Kids of Santa Cruz County
Healthy Kids currently provides coverage to about 2,000 local children.  Thanks to First 5 of Santa Cruz County, funding for premiums for our youngest members is secure.  Unfortunately, there are over 350 children age 6-18 on a waiting list for Healthy Kids, which grows by about 10 children per week.  A single mother told us she goes to her mailbox every day praying for an enrollment letter.  A local father worries about his daughter’s health and mounting debt due to medical bills.  Your support ensures that we can provide access to health care for as many children as possible.  If you would like to make a donation to Healthy Kids to help cover the cost of premiums, please visit the web site at www.schealthykids.org

Advocate for Comprehensive Health Care Reform AND Covering all California Kids
Assemblymember John Laird has been a true leader on the issue of health care access, particularly regarding the importance of covering children.  Write or call the Assemblymember’s office and urge him to continue standing up for children in the health reform debate.  You should also contact our other elected officials including your State Senator,  the Governor as well as local media to let your voice be heard in support of children’s health care access. 

Learn More About Health Care Reform Proposals
For more information on both state and national health care reform proposals, visit www.chcf.org; www.kff.org; or www.covertheuninsured.org  Armed with information, you can have a louder voice in the health reform debate both here in California as well as during the 2008 presidential election, where health care promises to be the top domestic policy agenda on the campaign trail.

For more information on the activities of the Health Improvement Partnership of Santa Cruz County as well as Healthy Kids, contact Leslie Conner, program director, at leslieconner@sbcglobal.net or 831.430.5604.