On Behalf of the Children

Gov. George Deukmejian has muffed one chance to help the children of California by vetoing a bill on preventive health care. He should display greater foresight as he considers the budget item now before him to expand a state program that monitors the occurrence of birth defects. In both cases the Legislature was trying to head off long-term health problems for children.

The Legislature should override the governor’s veto of AB 424, sponsored by Assemblyman Louis J. Papan (D-Millbrae). That measure would require comprehensive preventive health care for children up to age 16 as part of all health insurance in the state. Deukmejian was concerned about increasing health-care costs and expanding mandatory coverage. But insurers in California already must offer a variety of coverage to employers preparing insurance packages for their employees, and children already have coverage for physical examinations, immunizations and laboratory tests under Medi-Cal and private health-maintenance organizations. It is a well-established principle that early diagnosis and treatment can save money in the long run.

In the long run the state will also benefit from knowing whether there is any geographical pattern in the occurrence of birth defects. The Legislature included in the current state budget $2.3 million to expand the existing California Birth Defects Monitoring Program from five San Francisco Bay area counties to 20 across the state. The program attempts to pinpoint areas that have unusually high rates of birth defects, and thus possibly to pinpoint environmental causes as well.

About 20,000 infants will be born with birth defects in California this year. In a state with the toxic-waste and pesticide-contamination problems that California encounters, the monitoring program seems an especially efficient use of funds. California’s health officers support the program.So should the governor.