Health administrator says immunization money may run short

Wednesday, Oct. 6, 1999 | 10:11 a.m.

Yvonne Sylva told a legislative committee on health care Tuesday that the problem stems from growing numbers of children who need vaccinations and the rising cost of the shots.

And she and Human Resources Director Charlotte Crawford said they still don't know how much the federal government, which pays the bulk of the tab, will include in its budget.

Sylva said the division will have to ask the lawmakers' Interim Finance Committee for cash to make up the shortfall. But members of the health care committee expressed concern the request might have trouble competing for the limited amount of available contingency money.

"We will take it forward in the interest of public health," said Sylva. "To not look at that request will cost the state a lot more than the $1.2 million."

Crawford said Nevada has pushed to make sure as many children get immunized for childhood diseases including measles, mumps and others and that part of the problem is the success of that effort.

The legislative committee was also told more than 7,200 children are now covered by health benefits through the Nevada Check Up program.

That program, created to serve the needs of children when their parents work but can't afford or find normal health insurance, is now one year old. It provides benefits to children of families making up to double the federal poverty levels but not covered by Medicaid.

Health Care Financing and Policy Director Janice Wright told the committee another 500 applications for children are in the works and that she expects the total next year will reach the 11,750 children budgeted by the state.