WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today First Focus, a bipartisan children’s advocacy organization, released a letter calling for the protection of comprehensive benefits for children in health reform, as provided in both Medicaid and CHIP. Spearheaded by First Focus, a total of 153 national and state organizations have cosigned the letter.
“Before moving children out of these successful programs, Congress should ensure that children will receive comparable or better benefits, cost-sharing protections, and access to care under any new program,” the letter reads.
“Movement of children out of the Children’s Health Insurance Program and into the Health Insurance Exchange could potentially leave 9 million children worse off by providing fewer benefits and higher cost sharing than they currently have through CHIP. We strongly support last week’s action by the Energy and Commerce Committee, which approved an amendment by Rep. Diana DeGette that ensured children receive comparable coverage. We urge the House to retain these provisions in the final version, and the Senate must act in a similar manner for health reform to be a success for kids,” said Bruce Lesley, President of First Focus. “This coalition of organizations indicates the widespread, cross-sector support that these programs enjoy, largely because of the benefits they provide. Any movement of children in health reform legislation must ensure our young people are afforded the comprehensive array of services they need to grow up healthy and strong.”