The Congressional Children’s Health Care Caucus Co-Chairs Reichert and Castor invite you to attend a briefing in coordination with The National Association of Children’s Hospitals, First Focus and Georgetown Center on Children and Families.

Whether you are new to Capitol Hill or a health policy expert, it is important to remember that children are not just little adults. Their ongoing physical and mental development means that medical services must be tailored to meet their unique health care needs and their health care coverage must provide them with access to that care.

In coordination with the Congressional Children’s Health Care Caucus, child health policy experts have prepared an educational briefing for staff to learn about the status of children’s health coverage in America. Staff will also hear from a clinician from a premier children’s hospital who will articulate the health trends that are ailing our children in the 21st century and what these trends mean.

Time will be available for staff to engage in discussion with the panelists on children’s health care.

MODERATOR:

Michelle Brenan Office of Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA) Ms. Brenan will serve as the moderator for this briefing. Rep. Reichert serves as the co-chair for the Congressional Children’s Health Caucus.

PANELISTS: Joan Alker Co-Executive Director and Research Associate Professor Georgetown University Health Policy Institute Center for Children and Families  Joan has worked extensively on child and family health issues, including the role of Medicaid and CHIP in covering children and families. She will discuss the ways in which children receive health coverage today and provide an overview on issues surrounding eligibility, enrollment, and benefits for families with children.

John Neff MD Director of Children with Special Health Care Needs, Seattle Children’s Dr. Neff will provide an overview of the current health threats facing children and what the implications of these trends are on a child’s family, health care providers and the overall economy and why it is critical to invest in preventative care.

Bruce Lesley President, First Focus Bruce will discuss the successes of the Medicaid and CHIP programs in covering kids, recent developments on Capitol Hill in children’s coverage, and the outlook for federal children’s health policy in the 112th Congress.

Please RSVP to Camie Corrigan at ccorrigan@nachri.org