UPDATE!!! Baby Watch has been removed from the list of proposed cuts! We appreciate our families and their support!
Baby Watch is on the agenda for Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee (SSAC) this Friday 2/2 at 8 a.m. The committee will be hearing performance updates from UDOH on building blocks funded during the 2017 session which include BWEIP. As you may know, Legislative Fiscal Analysts have proposed cutting $3M in ongoing funding from BWEIP and backfilling it with $3M in one-time money while UDOH pursues possible private insurance funding to replace the ongoing state dollars. The legislative audit of BWEIP recommends “a cost-benefit analysis of private insurance utilization,” to secure additional sources of stable revenue for the program. The audit did not recommend that additional revenue be used to replace state funding that has already been appropriated to the program. Last year, $2.7M in ongoing funding was appropriated to the program to address years of unfunded growth.
The audit reports that BWEIP has reached its capacity.
BWEIP currently serves 2.75 percent of the 0-3 population in Utah, “well below
the national baseline of 4.97 percent.” The audit also found that Utah is
providing “far fewer service hours to eligible infants and toddlers,” based on
a survey of 25 states in 2015. The last thing we need is a reduction in
ongoing support for the program.
It would be really helpful to have a few FAMILIES there to
speak in support of the program and emphasize that any additional revenue, such
as private insurance, should be used to enhance the program and serve more
children. If you would be interested in speaking to the Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee, please contact Debbie Benson prior to 1 p.m. Thursday
to get on the list.
Debbie Benson 801.326.1698
You can also send emails or make calls to members of the SSAC.
Below is a link to the Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee page where
you can find members, meetings, agendas and meeting materials.
Thank you for your support of the children and families
served by Utah’s Baby Watch Program! Feel free to contact me with questions.
Mandy Zeschke
mzeschke@dsdmail.net
801 402-5403
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