Throughout Northern California, including Alameda, Santa Clara , San
Francisco, San Mateo, San Joaquin and Santa Cruz counties, more than 26,000
kids receive coverage directly through their local CHIs and another 26,000 are
estimated to be newly insured through either Medi-Cal or Healthy Families as a
result of the CHIs."
Koken said premiums for Cover All Kids will vary from no-cost for families
with incomes lower than 200 percent of the federal poverty level, to
approximately $143-per-child, per month for families with incomes in excess of
350 percent of the federal poverty level.

farnsworth estimated

"
According to statistics released recently by the Institute for Health
Policy Solutions, a policy and research organization based in San Mateo,
California, approximately 75,000 kids receive coverage directly from 10 county
CHIs through locally funded Healthy Kids programs .
In his 2005-2006 budget proposal, Governor Schwarzenegger said his
Administration "supports the goal that every child in California has health
insurance.
"Training Afghan female health professionals is key to increasing access
to quality health care for women and children," said Sakena Yacoobi, founder,
President and Executive Director of AIL.

About DRI and AIL
Founded in 1948, Direct Relief International (DRI) is a non-profit,
non-sectarian humanitarian assistance organization that has a long history of
working in Afghanistan. DRI has partnered with the Afghanistan Institute of
Learning (AIL) since 2002.

insure apha

The figure, announced today by a
coalition of California 's major foundations and First 5 California, represents
the first estimate of the impact of health insurance programs now up and
running in 10 counties across California. CHIs are partnerships between health
plans, community-based organizations, county agencies and commissions,
congregations, businesses , educators, and local health care providers to
provide health insurance to nearly every child in the county.
Ross, M. Additionally, the Governor's May Revise includes
funding for certified applicant assistants to assist in the enrollment of
eligible children who are eligible but are not enrolled in the Healthy
Families and Medi-Cal programs.6155

4 million in donated products to
directly improve maternal and child health, including Pedialyte(R) rehydration
solution; multivitamins and the nutritional supplements Formance(R) and Ensure
Healthy Mom(R); and the antibiotic Biaxin(R) (clarithromycin). In 2004, Abbott and the Abbott Fund donated
more than $300 million in products and funds to non-profit organizations,
philanthropic programs and relief efforts throughout the world . HARRISBURG, Pa. "This coverage
will be available to all uninsured children, regardless of the income level of
the parents or guardians. We are also flexible architects who
can, and have, changed with the times.

schip apha

The key
to this has been a coordination of CHI outreach and enrollment activities .266. It would also open
adultBasic health insurance to more low-income adults, Insurance Commissioner
Diane Koken told senators at a budget hearing today.
"Good regulation is always evolving.

From producer licensing to solvency
regulation, we continue to be 'on time and on target' with reforms and
initiatives that enhance our regulatory environment.

consultative mortality

D.
Koken said the Governor's "Cover All Kids" initiative and his proposal to
expand adultBasic builds on his strong record of focusing funding on programs
supporting Pennsylvania's most vulnerable citizens.

payer insure

Critical Health Care Coverage for Uninsured Children
Delivered Through Local Efforts

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. The first CHI,
in Santa Clara County, began enrolling kids in early 2001 .com ., Pennsylvania Governor Edward G.

eligibility earn

"
Kern County launched its CHI in February and is accepting applications to
its Healthy Kids program.

childs insure

Children's Health Initiatives (CHIs) are operating in Santa Clara, San
Francisco, Riverside, San Mateo, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Joaquin,
Kern , Santa Cruz and Alameda counties.
"Pennsylvania is home to one of the largest and most diversified insurance
marketplaces in the country," Koken said."

CONTACT: Rosanne Placey, Pennsylvania Department of Insurance,
+1-717-787-3289.

famis inadequate

But the impact of the CHIs
on children's coverage is greater than the number of children covered
directly.

For further information contact:
Jason Kinney or Michael Bustamante
916. Part of the challenge of
effective regulation is to create a regulatory framework that reflects the
constant and somewhat complex movement of a global sector of commerce, while
seeing that any progress or change in that framework translates to protecting
consumers and their unique needs in our state.

sd apha

, More than 150,000 children
in California now have health insurance thanks to unique local partnerships
called Children's Health Initiatives . A 2004 study by Mathematica Policy Research found that for every
child enrolled in Santa Clara 's Healthy Kids program nearly one additional
child was added to either the state-run Medi-Cal or Healthy Families programs. First 5 is proud to be working with
County and local providers to makes these initiatives a reality.
The programs require a modest premium or enrollment fee and co-pays .
CHIs in Santa Clara, Alameda, Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties are also
pioneering systems changes to streamline enrollment processes.

pee medicaid

"Our collective challenge is to expand
this model throughout the state so that we can say all children in California
have access to high quality and affordable health insurance. Working
together, we can finish the job across the state. Because it is easy to use, eligible children are more likely
to enroll and remain enrolled in health care programs like Medi-Cal and
Healthy Families. Working in partnership with Direct Relief International (DRI)
and the Afghanistan Institute of Learning (AIL), the Abbott Fund support will
provide training for female health providers and nutritional and
pharmaceutical products for maternal, infant and child health . Abbott also is donating $1.
AIL serves more than 300,000 women and girls annually.

About Abbott and the Abbott Fund
Abbott (NYSE: ABT) has a long history of supporting programs dedicated to
expanding access to health care. "We believe that information is a
consumer's best insurance policy.

schip insure

"If you apply a one-for-one multiplier to all of the CHIs," said Eugene
Lewit, Senior Program Manager at The David and Lucile Packard Foundation,
"it's reasonable to estimate that as many as 75,000 additional children may
have been added to Medi-Cal and Healthy Families -- for a total gain of
150,000 additional enrollees."
Through its Health Care Access for All Children Initiative, First 5
California has committed $42.5 million to be matched at a one-to-four rate by
county First 5 Commissions to provide health care coverage for children from
birth to age 5 over the next four years.
Each CHI provides comprehensive health care, including medical, dental,
vision, prescriptions and mental health benefits for children from birth to
age 18 in families with incomes below 300% of the federal poverty level (400%
in San Mateo County) who are ineligible for Medi-Cal and Healthy Families. She said spending on adultBasic will
expand this year to cover approximately 50,000 people per month, an increase
over the current average adultBasic enrollment of 41,570.

sd earn

About 49,000 children are insured through the local CHI and
an additional 49,000 are estimated to be newly insured through Medi-Cal or
Healthy Families.
"Our outreach and enrollment efforts in Southern California have paid off
and today nearly 100,000 more children are covered, " said Los Angeles County
Supervisor Gloria Molina, Chair of First 5 LA.

farnsworth eligibility

" His May 2005 Budget Revision includes funds to cover enrollment
of 100,000 more children in the Healthy Families program above the January
budget's estimated levels. More than 20,000 Afghan women a year die from pregnancy-related
causes, and an estimated 25 percent of Afghan children die before their fifth
birthday, mostly from preventable illnesses and malnutrition.

consultative farnsworth

"
In addition to receiving health insurance coverage , recent evidence from
an independent evaluation found that children in Santa Clara County are
healthier today and better prepared to meet the rigors of school as a result. One innovative
program, called One-e-app, uses a single Web-based application that
electronically routes relevant client information to agencies delivering
health programs. "With Abbott Fund's support, we are
significantly expanding our health care training programs for women, as well
as providing critical nutritional supplements and medical care for mothers and
children.
The Abbott Fund is a not-for-profit, philanthropic foundation established
by Abbott, a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery ,
development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical
products, including nutritionals , devices and diagnostics.
Abbott's news releases and other information are available on the
company 's Web site at http://www.

schip enrollment

mortality watchdog

Together,
these health funders have invested more than $100 million over the past 5
years to expand access to health care, improve the health care system, and
support diverse coalitions working to improve the health of our children.
"Children's Health Initiatives have become the health care lifeline to
over 150,000 of California's children," said Rob Reiner, Chair of the First 5
California Children and Families Commission.
Koken also highlighted the administration's commitment to consumer
outreach and education.

simplification qualify

, a pediatrician and President and CEO of The California Endowment. ABBOTT PARK, Ill.6 million in
state and federal funds to offer health insurance to an additional 15,000
children in the coming fiscal year," Commissioner Koken said.

earn farnsworth

In Santa Clara County, more than 13,000 children receive coverage through
the local Healthy Kids program and more than 13,000 additional children have
been enrolled in either the state-run Medi-Cal or Healthy Families. Before the end of this year, it is anticipated that
four additional counties -- San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare and Fresno
-- will launch their own local health insurance programs.

Abbott Fund Supports Pioneering Programs Improving the Health of Women and Children

uninsured maternal

"Children's Health Initiatives are stepping up to provide coverage for
kids who have fallen through the health care safety net," said Dr.
"Nearly every child in Santa Clara and San Francisco counties has health
insurance today because of CHIs," said Crystal Hayling, President and CEO of
Blue Shield of California Foundation.

mortality estimated

Local Children's Health Initiatives Boost Children 's Coverage by 150 000 Statewide

California's major health foundations including The California Endowment
and Blue Shield of California Foundation as well as The David and Lucile
Packard Foundation and state and county First 5 Commissions have been strong
supporters of the innovative partnerships on behalf of children., The Abbott Fund
announced today that it is providing $1.
Afghanistan 's maternal and infant mortality rates are among the highest in
the world. The company
employs 60,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries.

maternal schip

"Local CHIs prove that providing health care coverage for every kid in
California is doable. "We have put in place a
process that is accountable to the children and families we serve.

watchdog childs

"
As a result of the CHIs in Southern California, comprising Riverside, San
Bernardino, and Los Angeles counties, nearly 98 ,000 additional children have
health coverage."
An initial $100,000 grant from the Abbott Fund will support training of
female nurses, birth attendants and health educators to provide skilled
assistance during labor and delivery, as well as care for infants and
children.

schip eligibility

Robert K.5 million in funding and product
donations to programs aimed at improving the health of women and children in
Afghanistan. AIL is an Afghan women's non-governmental
organization that was founded in 1995 to assist Afghan women and children.
Rendell's proposed 2007-07 budget calls for additional funds to make sure that
all kids in Pennsylvania have health insurance coverage.

consultative payer

"These health care initiatives
will become the cornerstone in our effort to guarantee that all children in
California have health care coverage.abbott.

PA Governor Rendell's Insurance Budget Reflects Caring for Most Vulnerable Population

"Governor Rendell has proposed spending an additional $14. For that reason, we have made consumer
outreach and education a key initiative at the Insurance Department through
the dedicated work of our new Office of Consumer Liaison.