Candidate Responses by Question
Question Four: Statewide, 10 to 15 percent of families have a child with a special health care need -- a chronic physical, developmental, or behavioral condition that requires more than routine health and related services. As the fact sheet below illustrates, California ranks last in the nation on a minimum quality-of-care index for children with special health care needs. If elected, how would you address this situation?
Larry Aceves (State Superintendent of Public Instruction)
As a former kindergarten teacher, principal, and superintendent, I know how important it is for these children to receive quality care so that they can concentrate on their education. As a superintendent for 15 years, I know that a huge part of the problem has been the devastating budget cuts endured by public education over the past few years. As stated above, restoring these funds will be my top priority as Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Another part of the problem, as discussed in the question above, has been a breakdown of communications between the parents of these children and the state programs designed to provide them with health services. As Superintendent of Public Instruction, I will work to reverse this trend, and put parents in contact with the programs they need to provide for their children's health.
As superintendent in the San Jose area, I had great success in creating partnerships with private industry to establish a free medical and dental clinic for children, as well as obtaining grants for numerous other vital programs, including a program for assuring immunizations were done in the early years, as well as providing a protective coating for permanent teeth free of charge. As Superintendent of Public Instruction, I will work with districts throughout the state to replicate my success to ensure that all children with special health care needs receive quality care.
Tom Torlakson (State Superintendent of Public Instruction)
We have an obligation to do better by these children. We must not abandon children with special health care needs and their families.
I believe we cannot address properly the challenges children with special needs face without providing adequate funding to their support programs and our public schools.
We must ensure these children have adequate health coverage and access to family-centered care.
In addition to fulfilling the formal duties of the position, I will use the platform provided by the office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction to be a leading advocate for our students' health -- including seeking solutions to the problems our children with special health care needs face.
Dave Jones (Insurance Commissioner)
The goal of national health care reform is affordable health care for all. Families who have children with special health needs should get all the help they need, including adequate insurance, family-centered care, and a medical home.
I am a strong advocate of medical homes, and am the author of Assembly Bill 1542 (Jones 2010) which would create the patient-centered medical home act in California law. The bill is expected to pass when the Legislature re-convenes for a budget vote in early October.
I will use the authority and bully pulpit of the Insurance Commissioner's office to address and bring attention to California's low ranking regarding meeting needs of children with special health care needs.
Richard Pan, MD (Assembly District 5)
As a UC Davis pediatrician, I am a California Children's Services (CCS) credentialed physician and many of my patients are on Medi-Cal and have special health care needs. I understand the challenges this population faces in getting the services they need. A former board member of the Children's Specialty Care Coalition (CSCC), I, along with over 1000 of my pediatrician colleagues, have worked hard to ensure children with special health care needs have access to necessary, quality medical care. In the Assembly, I will educate my colleagues and other state officials about the importance of ensuring appropriate, high quality health care for all children with special needs and raise the Legislature's and public's overall awareness about issues affecting children with special health care needs. I will work to ensure that children with special needs have access to a medical home that includes preventive care, pediatric specialty care, and dental and vision care. California should be first on the quality-of-care index for children with special health care needs, not last.
Michael Allen (Assembly District 7)
I support SB 810, Senator Leno's Plan to provide universal healthcare for all of California and the Obama Administration's efforts to provide a public option. A public option would unshackle individuals from the mercy of private health insurance companies and give them leverage and an alternative that might better suit their needs. It also would force insurance companies to compete with the government thereby reducing costs within the system overall. I also support the implementation of the Family Opportunity Act to ensure coverage for special needs children regardless of family income. I would also work to ensure that parents are decision making partners as it relates to their child's care and push the state to define and operationalize the concept of a "medical home"
Doris Gentry (Assembly District 7)
I am open to discussions with your group on solutions. It sounds like you have done your homework on this topic and I would be honored to work with you on this very important issue. Kids should not be thrown out with the bathwater but brought in and nurtured by caring and compassionate adults.
Joan Buchanan (Assembly District 15)
I served on our local school board for 18 years working with special need parents to address the needs of their children. I've seen the strain on their families and their pocketbooks. I've also seen the positive outcomes when children receive the support needed to achieve their potential. In short, I believe providing these services and programs is one of the most cost-effective investments we can make.
Michael Rubio (Senate District 16)
I would work with experts in the field to find efficiencies in these programs that would minimize administrative costs, yet provide a higher quality of care for children with special health care needs.
Michael Berryhill (Congressional District 18)
It will take some time and effort to understand the best way to approach this problem; but to know that California's ranks last in the minimum quality-of-care index is clearly tragic and unacceptable. I believe the best way to address this is to work closely with LPFCH to introduce and pass laws that will benefit children. As a Grandfather of an autistic child, I realize the challenges facing families, and little ones with special health care needs, and I have a special focus on getting these childhood problems addressed and under control at as early an age as possible. In addition, we must do more research on the causes of childhood health problems to know what we are up against and what needs to be done to prevent even greater problems in the future. If I get elected, as a Congressman from California, I intend to focus on getting to the bottom of these issues.
Holly Mitchell (Assembly District 47)
As CEO of Crystal Stairs, I worked to help fund an initiative project that provided support to providers looking to provide care to children with special needs. The project has been wildly successful, and the fact that we have waiting lists for our events proves this is a critical need in many communities. If elected, I would work to support funding for programs that target children with special needs to make sure that the children, the families, and the child care providers have access to the resources they need.
Brian Gutierrez (Assembly District 57)
As a person with autisum aspergers, I know what gots to be fix and I will join organizations like your to ensure the well being of all children
Roger Hernandez (Assembly District 57)
I strongly believe everyone deserves quality health care. Thus, California kids deserve the same quality of care as other children across nation. As a legislator, I will work towards getting California's quality-of-care insurance index for children with special heath care needs up to par with those of other states.
I recognize that California faces particularly difficult challenges because the budget situation has resulted in major cuts to a number of programs that serve children with special health care needs. However, I will work towards restoring funding for California Children Services (CCS), Special Education, In-Home Supportive Services (INSS), as well as many other specialized service programs.
Renea Wickman (Assembly District 63)
Health Care Reform's 2014 provisions address some of these concerns. I would work hard to make sure California's insurance providers conform to the new standards. I would also draft legislation to include family-centered care and try to move forward the date for the implementation of the reform.
Toni Atkins (Assembly District 76)
Given the fact that health care coverage will be one of the top issues being actively addressed in the next five years, the survey and analysis you reference need to be part of the discussion in the Legislature as we move ahead. The data you provide will be important to making those critical decisions that will affect the quality-of-care for children and their families.
I'm committed to quality medical care for all and will work to ensure that young children with special needs get the services and support they need.