WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, U.S. Representative Rahm Emanuel (IL-05) announced the support of the National Association of Children’s Hospitals, First Focus and the March of Dimes for the Healthy Kids Act (HR 2147).  This bipartisan legislation, introduced in the House by Emanuel and Jim Ramstad (MN-03) provides uninsured children with access to quality health care by streamlining the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) enrollment process and providing states with the resources they need to provide coverage to all eligible children.  The Healthy Kids Act also provides families that are not eligible for Medicaid or SCHIP with a Healthy Savings Tax Credit, which they can use to purchase health coverage for their children.

“Congressmen Emanuel and Ramstad have been champions of many important children’s health insurance improvements, and their leadership on the Healthy Kids Act helps move the nation toward the goal of ensuring all children have health coverage,” said Bruce Lesley, President of First Focus, a bipartisan organization advocating sound healthcare policies to protect America’s children.  “Medicaid and SCHIP has delivered a real value for taxpayers, giving children access to cost-effective preventive care and avoiding costly emergency care and this bill would cut through the bureaucratic red tape and barriers that are often a deterrent to health coverage for children.”

“We appreciate your legislation’s inclusion of incentives for states to enroll eligible children though proven, effective policy reforms, and state options to cover legal immigrant children and pregnant women. Children’s hospitals across the country have a longstanding commitment to enrollment of eligible children, providing on-site enrollment in their facilities and promoting increased eligibility and enrollment,” wrote Lawrence A. McAndrews, President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Children’s Hospitals.

“By providing states with options, incentives and resources to simplify enrollment and cover all eligible children in the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and Medicaid, H.R.2147 has the potential to significantly decrease the number of uninsured children in the U.S.,” wrote Marina L. Weiss, PhD, Senior Vice President, Public Policy and Government Affairs of the March of Dimes in a letter of support. “The Foundation is particularly supportive of the provision in H.R.2147 that would remove barriers that make it difficult for states to cover pregnant women in SCHIP.  H.R.2147 would allow states to easily cover the full scope of maternity care benefits recommended in the clinical care guidelines set forth by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.” 

Although SCHIP has made significant progress in reducing the number of uninsured children, nearly nine million children still lack health coverage. Two-thirds of these children are eligible for Medicaid or SCHIP, but not enrolled.  For the first time since 1998, the rate of uninsured children increased, from 10.8 percent to 11.2 percent. The Healthy Kids Act will reverse this trend by directly addressing the lack of access to affordable health insurance for these children. Specifically:

• Resources: The legislation will provide financial incentives and resources to states to increase enrollment in Medicaid and SCHIP.
• Incentives: States that implement five policies to streamline the enrollment process would receive an increase on their federal matching rate for children’s coverage in Medicaid and SCHIP.
• Expansion: The legislation will provide states with new options to expand coverage to hard to reach populations. Children who have qualified for other means-tested programs including food stamps, WIC, and school lunches will automatically be deemed income eligible for Medicaid or SCHIP.
• Tax Credit: The Healthy Kids Act will provide families with a Healthy Savings Tax Credit so they can purchase employer-based health coverage for their children.  If the family does not have access to such coverage, they can buy into a state-designated coverage plan. 

Emanuel and Ramstad unveiled their plan with the support of  America’s Health Insurance Plans, American Hospital Association, Healthcare Leadership Council, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Ascension Health, Kaiser Permanente, American Medical Association, Johnson & Johnson, Families USA, Federation of American Hospitals, American Academy of Family Physicians, UnitedHealth Group, Catholic Health Association and American Public Health Association are members of the Health Care Coalition for the Uninsured (HCCU).  Additionally, this bill has received the support of the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC), the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and the Children’s Health Fund.