| WASHINGTON, DC – Chief Deputy Whip Diana DeGette (D-CO) joined with Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) and Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) in introducing the Children’s Health First Act, a major initiative to provide all children with access to quality, affordable healthcare coverage. The bill includes incentives for states to expand children’s health care and identify and enroll uninsured kids who qualify for coverage but are not enrolled.
“It is unacceptable that the United States, the wealthiest and most powerful nation on earth has nearly nine million uninsured children,” said Rep. DeGette. “That is why I have joined with Chairman Dingell and Senator Clinton in introducing the Children’s Health First Act. This important legislation has the potential to improve the lives of millions of children across the country by ensuring that our children receive the care they need to stay healthy.”
The Children’s Health First Act allows states to expand children’s health coverage to families earning up to 400 percent of the Federal poverty level through the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and receive increased Federal payments. It also provides States with the tools and resources necessary to identify and enroll the six million children who, though eligible for existing coverage programs, are not enrolled.
This legislation also offers a new affordable coverage option for both families and employers by allowing them the opportunity to buy health insurance coverage through SCHIP. Additionally it provides incentives to strengthen and protect employer-sponsored coverage, something more than 50 percent of children utilize today. States could also offer coverage to legal immigrant children and would have new incentives to offer coverage to pregnant women.
“Making health care accessible and affordable for all children is a top priority for this Congress. As the Vice Chair of the Committee on Energy and Commerce I will work to ensure that we do everything in our power to provide health care to the uninsured children of this country,” said Rep. DeGette.
# # #
Read the Summary of the Legislation: http://energycommerce.house.gov/chfa/031407%20Kids%20Bill%20Summary.Final.pdf
|
