HCFANY’s Children, Youth & Families Task Force presented the first Children’s Health Champion to Judy Arnold, Director of the Division of Eligibility and Marketplace Integration at the NYS Department of Health.  The award is well deserved. Under Ms. Arnold’s leadership, New York increased the number of children with health coverage; initiated the facilitated enrollment program, the predecessor to NY’s navigator program; and has worked to remove barriers to coverage and streamline enrollment. Congratulations to Judy!

The award presentation happened as a part of the spring meeting of HCFANY’s Children, Youth & Families Task Force on Wednesday, May 28. Advocates gathered in Albany to share important policy updates and to plan the next steps to secure universal health coverage for all children in New York.

The day also included a panel discussion moderated by Kate Breslin from the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy. Two important health care funders, The Atlantic Philanthropies and New York State Health Foundation, were present to share their perspectives, panel-style, on upcoming priorities for the health of NY’s children and families. Jim Knickman, President and CEO New York State Health Foundation, identified oral health, asthma, behavioral health, and obesity as top priorities for children’s health in New York. Kimberley Chin, Programme Executive at Atlantic Philanthropies, reflected upon the impact of the foundation’s work as it enters its final phase of grant making, and invests in projects that will provide sustainable solutions.

Additionally, attendees celebrated recent HCFANY budget wins and a stellar open enrollment period (over 960,000 New Yorkers enrolled)! They also heard updates from HCFANY’s Public Programs Group, which monitors Exchange implementation and challenges related to Medicaid, Child Health Plus, and other public insurance programs.

Much important work is on the horizon for this task force, including coverage for undocumented immigrants and adolescents, behavioral and oral health coverage, monitoring New York’s Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment Program (DSRIP), and other key priorities. On a national level, members will keep an eye on federal funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which provides comprehensive and affordable coverage to more the 8 million children across America. Funding expires as of September 30, 2015, unless congress takes action.