For Immediate Release:
January 14, 2009
 Further Information:
Mark Forest/Rory Sheehan - 202-225-3111
DELAHUNT HAILS PASSAGE OF CHILDREN'S HEALTH BILL
  Program Insures More Than 184,000 Children In Massachusetts
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Delahunt applauded House reauthorization of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) which will provide health insurance to 11 million children nationwide.

“In these difficult economic times, it is important that we sustain health care coverage for all children,” said Delahunt. “Here in Massachusetts, this legislation will expand the program to protect and extend coverage to those who need it the most.”

H.R. 2, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization bill was passed by the House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of 289 to 139. The SCHIP program was created in 1997 to provide health care coverage for children in families that earn too little to afford health insurance for their children, but earn too much to qualify for Medicaid.

This bill not only reauthorizes the children’s health insurance program but expands coverage to an additional four million uninsured children, bringing total health care coverage to 11 million.  President Bush vetoed this legislation twice in the 110th Congress.      

Specifically, this bill would:

  • Improve care and strengthen funding.  The bill invests billions in new funding over five years in SCHIP in order to strengthen SCHIP’s financing; increase health care coverage for low-income, uninsured children; and improve the quality of health care children receive.
  • Provide resources for states to reach uninsured children who are today eligible for SCHIP and Medicaid but not yet enrolled.  Two-thirds of uninsured children are currently eligible for coverage through SCHIP or Medicaid – but better outreach and adequate funding are needed to identify and enroll them.  This bill gives states the resources and incentives necessary to reach and cover millions of uninsured children who are eligible for, but not enrolled in, SCHIP and Medicaid.       
  • Improve SCHIP benefits – ensuring dental coverage and mental health parity.  Under the bill, quality dental coverage will now be provided to all children enrolled in SCHIP.  The bill also ensures that states will offer mental health services on par with medical and surgical benefits covered under SCHIP.
  • Improve the quality of care for low-income children.  The bill establishes a new initiative to develop and implement pediatric health quality measures and improve state reporting of quality data.

The bill now goes over to the Senate.  The Democratic leadership plans on having a completed bill on President Obama’s desk soon after he takes office.

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