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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, United States Representative Marion Berry (AR-01) voted to pass H.R. 2, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization bill, which will provide health care coverage for 11 million children. This bipartisan bill renews and improves SCHIP by preserving coverage for the 7 million children currently covered by SCHIP. In addition, the bill extends coverage to 4 million uninsured children who are currently eligible for, but not enrolled in, SCHIP and Medicaid.
"Due to the struggling economy, more and more American parents are having a harder time finding affordable health insurance for their children, which is why this SCHIP bill is so critical," said Berry. "Ensuring our children have the healthcare they need is not only the right thing to do it is also much more cost-effective for taxpayers than taking children to the emergency room when they are sick."
Currently, two-thirds of uninsured children are eligible for coverage through SCHIP or Medicaid but their parents are unaware of this assistance. This bill gives states the resources and incentives necessary to identify and enroll eligible children. The bill will also provide quality dental coverage to all children enrolled in the program. Finally, the bill establishes a new initiative to develop and implement pediatric health quality measures and improve state reporting of quality data.
"Children without health insurance are less likely to receive medical attention, but most importantly, when they are sick it is difficult for them to learn in school," said Berry. "We must do our best to help children get the medical care they need so they are better prepared in the classroom to provide them with the tools they need to succeed in life. Childhood is a medically pivotal time, which is why we must do everything we can to ensure they are healthy and strong."
SCHIP was created in 1997 to provide health care coverage for children in families who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to afford private insurance, and has proved to be a successful, cost-effective program for providing health care. Currently 89,000 children in Arkansas are enrolled in this program. |
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