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January jobs report: Unemployment rate falls to 4%, wages rise more than forecast; Trump signs order imposing sanctions on International Criminal Court over investigations of Israel; Ten Commandments in public schools debate reaches South Dakota; Virginia ranks among worst states for wage theft; Mexican long-nosed bat makes appearance in Arizona.

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Attorney General Pam Bondi strikes a Trump tone at the Justice Department, federal workers get more time to consider buyouts, and an unclassified email request from the White House worries CIA vets.

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During Black History Month, a new book shares how a unique partnership built 5,000 schools for Black students, anti-hunger advocates say ag communities would benefit from an expanded SNAP program, and Americans have $90 billion in unpaid medical bills.

Another Back to School Necessity: Health Insurance

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Tuesday, September 7, 2010   

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California parents sending their kids back to school are remembering the backpack and notebooks, but what about the health insurance? Around 700,000 California kids heading into classrooms are uninsured - but they don't have to be.

A new report finds two-thirds of the state's uninsured children are eligible for health coverage, but they're not enrolled. Wendy Lazarus, with the Children's Partnership, says it's clear more needs to be done to encourage eligible families to enroll, especially in these cost-cutting times when there's not a lot of money for new programs.

"These programs are funded. There are 700,000 children in working and low-income families who could get a health card tomorrow and be able to go to the doctor for a check-up, a toothache or whatever they need."

Kelly Hardy, director of Health Policy with Children Now, says back-to-school time brings health issues to the forefront, with parents having to get their children's immunizations in order. She says it's also a reminder that the state ends up paying one way or another.

"They can pay to make sure that the children have access to affordable health coverage or they can pay on the back end with reduced productivity and unhealthy kids who need to go to the emergency room for care."

The federal government has just announced a nationwide effort called the "Connecting Kids to Coverage Challenge," which seeks to enroll all eligible but uninsured children in programs such as Medi-Cal or Healthy Families within five years. This new program brings coaches, teachers and community leaders together in an effort to educate families.

The new report, "Who and Where are the Children Yet to Enroll in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program?", was published in the journal "Health Affairs."




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