Child health care program enrollment drops

FAIRFAX, Va., June 30 (UPI) -- Fairfax County, Va., officials say enrollment in a program that provides low-cost medical care to uninsured children has fallen for the first time.

The Medical Care for Children Partnership is for children whose parents earn too much to qualify for government health insurance programs but not enough to afford private health insurance.

The number of children served has fallen 15 percent to 6,000, the first time enrollment has dropped in the program's 18-year history.

Officials speculated that Hispanics who may be eligible for the program may be unaware of it or afraid to apply. They also said some poor families may have moved to areas with cheaper housing.