Hawaii ending universal child health care

By MARK NIESSE, Associated Press Writer Mark Niesse, Associated Press Writer

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Fri Oct 17, 3:29 am ET

HONOLULU – Hawaii is dropping the only state universal child health care program in the country just seven months after it launched.

Gov. Linda Lingle's administration cited budget shortfalls and other available health care options
for eliminating funding for the program. A state official said families
were dropping private coverage so their children would be eligible for
the subsidized plan.

"People who were
already able to afford health care began to stop paying for it so they
could get it for free," said Dr. Kenny Fink, the administrator for
Med-QUEST at the Department of Human Services. "I don't believe that was the intent of the program."

State
officials said Thursday they will stop giving health coverage to the
2,000 children enrolled by Nov. 1, but private partner Hawaii Medical Service Association will pay to extend their coverage through the end of the year without government support.

"We're
very disappointed in the state's decision, and it came as a complete
surprise to us," said Jennifer Diesman, a spokeswoman for HMSA, the
state's largest health care provider.
"We believe the program is working, and given Hawaii's economic
uncertainty, we don't think now is the time to cut all funding for this
kind of program."

Hawaii lawmakers
approved the health plan in 2007 as a way to ensure every child can get
basic medical help. The Keiki (child) Care program aimed to cover every
child from birth to 18 years old who didn't already have health
insurance — mostly immigrants and members of lower-income families.