Sequoia Healthcare District approves $1,350,000 grant to the Children’s Health Initiative

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Redwood City, CA, June 18, 2008 - Sequoia Healthcare District approved funding $1,350,000 for the San Mateo County Children’s Health Initiative. The District’s Board of Directors approved the $1.350 million for each of the next three years, to pay for health insurance for the uninsured children in the District, at its regular public meeting on April 2, 2008.

The District has funded the Children’s Health Initiative for the last five years. An independent study established that the number of uninsured children has decreased from 18,000 in 2002 to fewer than 3,000 in 2007, for all of San Mateo County.

The District’s funding has paid for insuring about 1,700 children up to 18 years of age. The children also receive health screenings as part of the plan, which is operated by the Health Plan of San Mateo.

Lack of health insurance is the primary reason that people, especially children, go without preventive care until an emergency condition arises which causes them to seek medical care. This is then becomes significantly more expensive than prevention in treating the problem.

Ron Robinson, CHI Oversight Coalition Chair said: "Undoubtedly, the District's funding commitment to the Children's Health Initiative (CHI) of $1.35 million annually has not only provided comprehensive health coverage to the District's uninsured children but improved the well being of these children and their families by improving their access to and use of medical, dental and vision care. Over the past five and a half years, approximately 13, 300 children, in which at least 35% are District residents, have benefited from CHI's Healthy Kids program. In addition, a recent study by the USC Center for Community Health Studies demonstrated that providing comprehensive health coverage programs to uninsured children not only improves the health of these families, but also has significant cost savings. According to this study, CHIs across the state including San Mateo has saved the state and federal government up to $7.3 million annually in health care costs preventing more than 1,000 unnecessary child hospitalizations each year."

About Sequoia Healthcare District
Headquartered in Redwood City, Sequoia Healthcare District has been providing healthcare through Sequoia Hospital since the early 1950s. In 1996, the District transferred operation of the Hospital to a non-profit organization in partnership with Catholic Healthcare West. In December 2007, the District entered into an agreement with its partner CHW to re-build Sequoia Hospital. The District works collaboratively with local organizations to provide for the health care needs of the District’s residents. District tax revenues are used for innovative programs and activities to achieve health, wellness and disease prevention in Southern San Mateo County. Communities in the District include Redwood City, San Carlos, Belmont, Menlo Park, Woodside, Atherton and Portola Valley.

Media Contact: 170 Alameda de las Pulgas, Redwood City, CA 94062 Phone: 650. 482.6115 Fax: 650.482.6056