Children’s Identifies 2007 Top Advocacy Priorities

Quick Quiz!

1. How many Colorado children ages 0-18 years are uninsured?
2. How much did Children’s absorb in Medicaid losses due to insufficient reimbursement in 2005?
3. What is the number one cause of injury and death for Colorado children? 
4. What is the number one cause of trauma death for children admitted to The Children’s Hospital?
5. What is often referred to as “the most effective public health measure in the last 100 years” by the Centers for Disease Control?
6. Organs and tissue donated by one person can save as many as ___ lives and benefit as many as ____   other people.

Answers listed below.

If you were able to answer all or even some of these questions correctly, you probably understand why Children’s is planning to build on advocacy efforts in the following priority areas during the coming year:

Access to Care

Not only are there a significant number of Colorado children who do not have health insurance coverage, even those who do often have a difficult time accessing the healthcare services they need.  Children’s will continue to support efforts to expand eligibility for children to enroll in public health insurance programs while emphasizing the need to ensure a strong provider network to care for these children.  This means improving reimbursement for pediatric care,  reducing administrative burdens, and streamlining the enrollment process for families, just to name a few.

Medicaid

With nearly half of our patient population enrolled in the Medicaid program, The Children’s Hospital has been severely impacted by the inadequate reimbursement we receive from the Medicaid program for the care we provide.   In most cases, our costs significantly exceed the reimbursement.  As a result, Children’s has had to absorb tens of millions of dollars in annual losses in order to continue to provide care for Medicaid patients.   Clearly, this is not a sustainable trend.  In addition to requesting support from the legislature on this issue, we expect to engage around various measures aimed at expanding eligibility as well as improving efficiency and reducing administrative barriers within the Medicaid program. 

Injury & Child Abuse Prevention

Although we are deeply troubled by the number of children injured or killed by preventable injuries and abuse each year, the key word here is preventable.   Children’s will continue to enhance efforts to promote child passenger safety, bicycle safety, and Shaken Baby Syndrome prevention in 2007.  To lend your support to current advocacy efforts in these areas, visit Safe Kids Denver Metro and www.dontshakeababy.com

Childhood Immunizations

Thanks to advocacy efforts in recent years, Colorado has made some positive strides in terms of immunizing our young children, but much more work needs to be done.  Children’s will continue to support efforts to improve funding for immunization programs in “pockets of need” communities throughout the state, as well as enhance the Colorado Immunization Information System, a centralized immunization registry designed to improve communication amongst medical providers and families regarding what immunizations their children need and when they are due.

Organ Donation

Every day more children are added to the waiting list for organ and tissue donation.   Children’s will support efforts to heighten awareness of and strengthen efforts to promote organ donation and improve the organ procurement process. 

Children’s advocates play a critical role in these and other related efforts: We are counting on you to speak up when it really matters. It only takes a few moments to respond to our “Action Alerts” on children’s health policy issues.  Colorado ’s children are counting on you in 2007! 

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ANSWERS:

1. Approximately 170,000
2. Approximately $55 million
3. Preventable injuries (motor vehicle crashes, bicycle crashes, falls, drownings, etc.)
4. Non-accidental trauma (i.e. child abuse)
5. Immunizations
6. 8 lives/50 people