Chronically ill kids would lose care under budget proposal

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Chronically ill kids would lose care under budget proposal

02/04/2003

Associated Press

AUSTIN - About 1,400 chronically ill Texas children suffering from diseases such

as cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy would go without medical treatment

under proposed budget cuts at the Texas Department of Health.

The Children with Special Health Care Needs program provides health care to

4,000 chronically ill children who would otherwise go without treatment.

In October, the health department stopped enrolling children in the program

despite having the money to pay for their care. A waiting list with 1,400 names

was created.

The health department has a projected $12.8 million surplus in the program,

including a $4 million federal grant.

Gov. Rick has ordered state agencies to cut their budgets by 7 percent as

a way to help close a $1.8 billion budget deficit this fiscal year. Another

shortfall of at least $8.1 billion is projected through 2005.

Because of the budget problems, the $12.8 million will be returned to lawmakers

to plug the 2003 hole.

Rep. Garnet , D-Houston, said Monday that the program only has a surplus

because the department stopped enrolling children and created the waiting list.

" You still have the children sitting on the waiting lists, " he said. " Children

are being denied services to pay for the budget. "

" We're talking about Jerry ' kids, " said.

two weeks ago joined House Speaker Tom Craddick and Lt. Gov.

Dewhurst in asking state agencies to slash their budgets that run through Aug.

31. They exempted public education, the Children's Health Insurance Program and

parts of Medicaid.

The Republican trio also suggested agencies cut administrative costs first and

look last to services.

The health department needs legislative approval to be able to keep the money,

Jann Melton-Kissel, chief of the agency's Children's Health Bureau told the San

Express-News.

spokesman Gene Acuna said Monday that the governor's office would not

comment until they find out if the health department will ask for permission to

use the $4 million federal grant.

said he wants to see the entire $12.8 million used to help sick

children.

" While the need to save money in this budgetary environment is clear, we

shouldn't save by cutting services to chronically ill and disabled children. The

best public policy is to find the dollars for those children who need them

most, " wrote in a letter sent to .

Four-year-old Jordan Edenfield of San , who weighs just 23 pounds and has

cerebral palsy and hydrocephalus, is among the children waiting for help.

She's had 24 operations and needs two more next month. Jordan qualifies for

Medicaid but only when her father doesn't earn too much money in a month.

When he does, Jordan goes without insurance.

Jeanette Edenfield tries to hold off on taking her daughter to the doctor, but

often ends up taking Jordan to the emergency room where she cannot be turned

away despite being uninsured.

" She needs insurance every day, " Jeanette Edenfield said.