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SCHIP Has Been Successful Overall, Should Be Expanded |
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From EurekAlert! - Breaking News: As the debate over reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) heats up in Washington, a new survey of leaders in health policy and health care finds that large majorities feel the program has been successful in increasing access to health care for low income children (71%) and in reducing the rate of uninsured, low-income children (65%). Across the board, leaders feel that coverage should be expanded. In fact, 91% of respondents think SCHIP should be made available to legal immigrant children whose families meet income requirements. While health care opinion leaders favor expansion of the program, they also support new provisions to the program's structure that would help the U.S. provide high-quality health care for all children. Four of five survey respondents (81%) were in favor of establishing federal performance standards and outcome measures for all children in SCHIP, and 69 percent favored measuring and reporting on the frequency and quality of developmental screening. Seventy-eight percent of respondents favored requiring states to reward managed care plans and providers that meet benchmark levels of performance on developmental screening, preventive care, and follow-up treatment. "Leading health care and health policy experts have clearly stated that SCHIP is a success and should be expanded," said Commonwealth Fund President Karen Davis. Only one-third (34%) say SCHIP has been successful in stimulating state innovation in designing delivery models for children. The online survey was conducted within the United States by Harris Interactive between March 12, 2007 and April 6, 2007.
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