As a local pediatrician and a member of the Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, I see the impact of budget cuts on our state’s children every day. There’s no doubt that this is a challenging economic time, but failing to invest in our youngest citizens is the wrong way to solve budget deficits.
I urge legislators in Olympia to increase revenue to preserve critical programs that provide for children’s health and well-being, including: full implementation of Medicaid expansion; investment in the newborn-screening program; funding for the Apple Health for Kids Hotline; autism treatment with Applied Behavioral Analysis; preservation of funds for Reach Out and Read; and funding for habilitative services, as a good portion goes toward services for children. These and other programs are essential to give our children a strong start. Make children’s health a priority by ensuring funding for these programs.
Nicole Castonguay
Vancouver
