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Community Clinics Say No to Enrollment Caps

Community clinic officials in San Diego are reacting angrily to news that the state may cap enrollment in Healthy Families. The program provides health coverage to kids whose families make too much to

Community clinic officials in San Diego are reacting angrily to news that the state may cap enrollment in Healthy Families. The program provides health coverage to kids whose families make too much to qualify for Medi-Cal. KPBS Reporter Kenny Goldberg has more.

State officials say capping enrollment in Healthy Families may be necessary because of the budget crisis.    

Gary Rotto is with the Council of Community Clinics in San Diego . He says such a move would hurt low-income families with children.

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Gary Rotto: If they know that their child's not covered, they may not go to a clinic. They may not go for services that are needed.

Zara Marselian directs La Maestra Family Clinic in City Heights. She says if Healthy Families freezes enrollment, her clinic won't be able to pick up the slack.

Zara Marselian: We would not be able to sustain the dental, the medical, the mental health visits for children for free. There is no way.

More than 900,000 kids statewide are enrolled in Healthy Families.

 Kenny Goldberg, KPBS News.