Posted by shegeek72 on 7/30/2007, 4:05 pm Thank you for contacting me regarding funding for the State Children's Health Insurance Program. I appreciate hearing from you. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 created the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which is authorized through FY 2007. At the end of fiscal year 2007, Congressional authorization for SCHIP is set to expire. For SCHIP, this process will take place at a time when the uninsured rate for children is on the rise and concerns about the health system are growing. As you know, the purpose of SCHIP is to help states pay for health coverage of uninsured children in families who are low income, but whose income is above the levels that would allow them to be eligible for the state's Medicaid programs. Congress appropriated nearly $40 billion for the 10-year period of its original authorization. The current FY2007 resolutions in the Senate and House continue to fund the program. A recent federally funded evaluation found SCHIP to be successful in nearly all of the areas the study examined. Since inception, enrollment in SCHIP has increased steadily to over six million children in 2005. As a result, between 1997 and 2005, the percentage of low-income, uninsured children in the U.S. dropped from 22.3 percent to 14.9 percent. Despite gains in coverage, about nine million children under age 19 remained uninsured in 2005. Despite the demonstrated success of the program, and a clear and increasing need for access to healthcare services among low income children, President Bush's budget calls for level funding for SCHIP for fiscal year 2008. This level of funding provides less than half the funds needed just to maintain the program, will not allow for more children to be enrolled, and does nothing to address rising healthcare costs. Healthcare for our nation's youth is important to ensuring the success of our nation in the future. Like you, I believe that all Americans, especially children, should have access to adequate healthcare. For ten years SCHIP has provided vital healthcare to some of America's neediest children and as Congress prepare to reauthorize SCHIP, I will oppose the president's budget and will support adequate funding to continue this important program. Additionally, you may be interested to know that because improving access to quality healthcare in America is one of my highest priorities in Congress, and I believe that we must work hard to ensure that children begin with the support they need to live healthy and productive lives, in addition to strongly supporting SCHIP, I am currently developing legislation that would extend coverage under Medicare to children up to 18 years of age. Thank you once again for contacting me. I will keep your thoughts in mind as Congress prepares to reauthorize SCHIP and debates legislation relating to children's healthcare. Thank you for sharing your views on this important issue. If you have any questions or concerns in the future, please contact me at 503-326-2901 or 800-422-4003. With warm regards, David Wu
71.32.248.27
The following is from Congressman David Wu concerning the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP):
Member of Congress
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