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HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala, along with Attorney General Janet Reno, Education Secretary Richard Riley, and representatives of several national non-profit organizations, announced a national Back-to-School campaign today to enroll children in free or low-cost health insurance through the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

With the support of the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Justice, and Education, and national non-profit organizations including the United Way, today's announcement launched a campaign to raise awareness and enroll children in health insurance through CHIP and Medicaid in local communities this fall.

Secretary Shalala also announced a $1 million radio campaign, funded by HHS, to promote these upcoming enrollment activities, scheduled from now until October 2. The Back-to-School campaign will include 45 outreach events in more than 25 local areas in partnership with local United Ways, schools, hospitals, community health centers, community-based organizations, and media outlets.

"Access to health insurance is what families need to help ensure that their children grow up healthy and strong," said Secretary Shalala. "This campaign is one way that we are pulling together to help hard-working, low-income parents give their children quality health care through CHIP."

Proposed by President Clinton and passed as part of the bipartisan Balanced Budget Act of 1997, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is the largest single expansion of health insurance coverage for children in more than 30 years. This initiative was designed to reach children who come from working families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid, but too low to afford private health insurance. This initiative set aside $24 billion over five years for states to provide new health coverage for millions of children. To date, plans prepared by all 50 states, 5 U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia have been approved. With these plans, states expect to enroll an estimated 2.6 million children by September 2000.

The Back-to-School campaign is supported by several national non-profit organizations, including the United Way of America, which represents 1,400 independent, local United Ways, America's Promise, the American Hospital Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the Children's Defense Fund, March of Dimes, the National Assembly of National Voluntary Health and Social Welfare Organizations, the National Association of Community Health Centers, and the National Council of La Raza.

Families and others interested in more information about CHIP can call the Insure Kids Now national toll-free telephone number, 1-877-KIDS NOW. Information on CHIP and local upcoming events is also available on the web site at: www.insurekidsnow.gov. Radio stations can click here to sample the Back-to-School (hhs.gov/news/press/1999pres/chip.wav) campaign PSA.

A video news release including soundbites from Secretary Shalala is available at: 2:30-3 p.m. EDT - GE 2, transponder 18, downlink4060 MHz - audio 6.2 & 6.8.

Audio of Secretary Shalala discussing CHIP is also available on the HHS Radio Line at 1-800-621-2984.

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