Concern is rising among children’s advocates that the state’s budget crisis will pressure the state to forgo $100 million in federal funding for children’s health insurance because it can’t afford the $33 million match.
Advocates say that turning away the money for MIChild could be disastrous for children whose parents lack health insurance because their numbers are increasing as jobless rates rise statewide, the Detroit News reported.
Both Republican and Democratic legislators agree that it is unlikely that the state will be able to come up with the matching funds. They now are trying to address a $2.8 billion deficit for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.
"Show me where the $30 million is and give me a way to mark that
against other priorities," said Sen. Roger Kahn, R-Saginaw, chairman of
the Senate budget committee that oversees the Michigan Department of Community
Health.
About 983,000 children are enrolled in Michigan
