Without critical health coverage, the 5-year-old with diabetes could go without insulin necessary for his condition. The 12-year-old suffering from asthma could go without an inhaler, forcing her to suffer during moments when air won't come to her lungs in ample supply. The sick 10-year-old, who has no access to a doctor, could be sent to the first day of school with a 103-degree fever.

This might sound like something that would happen in an underdeveloped country, yet it will soon be happening right here in California thanks to recent budget cuts. Despite past claims that keeping our kids healthy is a priority, the governor and Legislature decided to make cuts to California's Healthy Families Program that will result in 1 million children losing access to health care over the next year, including 6,225 in Santa Cruz County. These cuts represent the single largest cut to children's health coverage in our nation's history.

California children will lose access to basic health care services that help manage chronic illnesses, like asthma and diabetes. That's not even considering children with life-threatening illnesses.

If you think this doesn't impact you, think again. Rising numbers of uninsured children could spread illness this fall when kids return to schools and day cares without access to vaccines and treatment for illnesses. Also consider that the Center for Disease Control expects swine flu to re-emerge this fall and disproportionately impact children. With the threat of a looming epidemic, reducing kids' access to care could impact the public health of all Californians.

Cuts to Healthy Families are a not only threatening California's children, but, ironically, the cuts will also fail to realize General Fund savings. Providing children health coverage actually saves money by preventing more serious and costly health problems. When children lose insurance, they don't stop getting sick -- they just end up seeking more costly care in emergency rooms where they are -- by law -- guaranteed to be seen. Providing treatment in emergency rooms increases costs for everyone -- businesses, taxpayers and families. Cutting the Health Families program hardly makes economic sense.

The is additional fiscal impact. By cutting Healthy Families our governor and Legislature are effectively giving away approximately $360 million in federal funds to other states. That is because for every $1 California spends on Healthy Families, the federal government invests $2. Those funds support doctors, hospitals, and other health providers in every county and city in California. Our economy cannot afford to forfeit these federal funds.

Yes, these are tough budget times. But other states have taken steps to protect and even expand health coverage to more children while California moves in the exact opposite direction. Our kids deserve better.

Dr. Nanette Mickiewicz is president and CEO of Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz.