Association Continues to Advocate for Asthma Program

PUBLIC POLICY UPDATE, SPRING/SUMMER 2000

Asthma has become a significant public health issue at the State Capitol, thanks to State Senator Byron Sher (D-Palo Alto) and the diligent work of American Lung Association volunteers and staff throughout California. Efforts to secure a comprehensive statewide program to address asthma under Senate Bill 1111 (Sher) will continue in the 2000 legislative session.

Reducing the burden of asthma on children and adults is a major priority for the American Lung Association because an estimated 2.3 million Californians suffer from the lung disease. Asthma prevalence is on the rise, jumping 60 percent in California between 1984 and 1996.

Last fall, there were indications that money would be allocated for an asthma program in the 2000-2001 state budget, but when Governor Davis unveiled his budget proposal in January, there was no asthma funding.

Fortunately, the statewide California Children and Families Commission - established and funded through the cigarette tax raised under Proposition 10 - approved $6 million in funding for asthma programs aimed at children ages 5 and under. It will be administered by the California Department of Health Services and will include: multifaceted community asthma grants, "safety net" drug subsidies and medical monitoring for uninsured children with asthma, provider education to improve the quality of pediatric asthma care, and epidemiological studies.

These efforts are a good, but fall short of the comprehensive program advocated by the American Lung Association of California.

American Lung Associations around the state are working at the grassroots level to rally support for these much needed asthma programs.