Human Services News

Families USA:

U.S. House and Senate leaders are meeting this month to work out differences between their separate versions of legislation that reauthorizes the 10-year-old Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Originally approved by a Republican Congress and signed by a Democratic president, the new approved bill is expected to add between $35 and $50 billion over five years to provide health coverage for as many as 5 million of the nation's estimated 9 million uninsured children.

The House version, with a higher proposed funding level, would reduce the number of uninsured children by about 5 million, or 55 percent.

A far greater challenge, however, has been posed by President Bush, who has repeatedly stated his intention to veto the new bill and whose Administration this month issued new guidelines that undercut the original flexibility given to states to implement the program.

"With the renewal of CHIP, we have an opportunity to build on one of the greatest legislative success stories in recent years," Ron Pollack, Executive Director of Families USA, said today.

Pollack called attention to the fact that a presidential veto will not only halt the efforts to enroll more uninsured children in state health plans, but it will also throw millions of children already enrolled in CHIP out of the program.

"In the midst of what the nation has come to recognize as a crisis in our entire system of health care delivery, the President's veto would be an astounding step backwards," Pollack said.

"State governors---Republican and Democrat alike---have already expressed their dismay and disapproval of these unnecessary roadblocks to health care delivery.