Congressman Sander Levin

Children's Health Care

All people deserve health insurance, but none more so than children. As I said on the floor of the House about extending and improving the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) program: “Some of the issues we debate in Congress are complicated. This one is quite simple.”

The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) was created by a bi-partisan coalition in Congress over 10 years ago to help states insure low-income children who are ineligible for Medicaid but cannot afford private insurance. Since its inception, the number of uninsured children in the U.S. has been cut by a third. However, nine million American children, more than the population of New Jersey, are still without health insurance.

SCHIP is an important partnership between states and the federal government. In Michigan’s program, called MIChild, the federal government currently provides 72% of funds. In other words, for every 28 cents Michigan spends on the program, the federal government puts in 72 cents. In 2007, the federal government contributed a total of $171 million to Michigan to help extend coverage to 114,000 Michigander children.

The original 10-year authorization for SCHIP expired on September 30, 2007. Although President Bush vetoed two bills to extend and improve SCHIP in the summer and fall of 2007, Congress was able to pass a short-term version of the legislation that will extend the program through March 2009. I will continue to support the SCHIP program and the expansion of children’s health insurance until all children have access to affordable health care.

I am also a co-sponsor and strong supporter of the Healthy Children and Families Act. This legislation helps states provide nurse visitation programs in which nurses come to the homes of first-time parents to offer pre- and post-natal care, breastfeeding counseling, well-baby care, and referrals to community services that promote physical and mental health.