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Poor children could lose medical coverage in budget plan

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The state Legislative Analyst’s Office said Friday that fewer poor children will get the medical care they need under Gov. Jerry Brown’s budget proposal.

Brown plans to save $64 million by phasing out the Healthy Families program, which provides low-cost healthcare to almost 900,000 poor children. These children would be enrolled in the state’s Medi-Cal program, which covers fewer costs.

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The LAO said moving the children into Medi-Cal could help streamline the state’s healthcare programs, but it raised concerns that some doctors may stop seeing children after the switch.

“There would likely be some pediatricians . . . who would not serve these children once they transitioned to Medi-Cal,” said the LAO’s report.

-- Chris Megerian in Sacramento

Twitter: @chrismegerian

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