WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation to reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (H.R. 2) was passed by a vote of 289-139, and if signed into law will provide health insurance to over 11 million American children in low income families..
The legislation calls for a 61 cent increase to the federal tobacco tax, which will provide $32.3 billion over four and a half years. The legislation includes many important provisions, including a repeal of the five year waiting period currently imposed on legal immigrant children before they are eligible for health coverage under SCHIP. The bill also includes a provision to allow states to use so-called “Express Lane Enrollment” processes, which speed the enrollment of eligible but uninsured children.
Bruce Lesley, President of First Focus, a bipartisan children’s advocacy organization, made the following comments.
“By making SCHIP the first major piece of legislative business, the new Congress and incoming President have shown a strong commitment to the health of our nation’s children. The House should be applauded for ensuring the continued coverage for the 7 million children who currently rely on SCHIP, while providing coverage for an additional 4 million children who are currently uninsured. In fact, this will reduce the number of uninsured American children by half.
“We are especially grateful to see that this legislation ensures coverage for legal immigrant children and pregnant women, so that a pregnant woman or child with cancer, diabetes, or asthma no longer has to wait five years to receive health care. In addition, we are pleased to see ‘Express Lane Enrollment’ processes included in the legislation, which will expedite the enrollment of eligible but uninsured children. Moreover, this bill provides grants to community-based organizations to improve outreach and enrollment activities, among many other measures in this bill that will improve health care access and coverage for our nation’s most precious resource, our children.
“No government program has been more successful in expanding children’s healthcare coverage than SCHIP. In these dire economic times, this program serves as a critical lifeline for millions of American families. While it is clear that there is more work to do to ensure coverage for all children, indeed all Americans, we are grateful for this important step in that direction.
“In 2007, President Bush twice stood in the way of this legislation, which is supported by bipartisan majorities in both the House and Senate. We are very pleased that this new Administration has been advocating for this legislation, instead of blocking it.”
SCHIP is a vital program for our nation’s low-income children who are in families earning too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford private health insurance coverage. Since enacted in 1997, SCHIP has reduced the number of uninsured children by nearly one-third.
A recent national poll by First Focus has found that Americans support SCHIP renewal by a margin of more than eight to one, 82-10 percent. In addition, by a margin of 79-15 percent, a majority of Americans favor expanding SCHIP to cover legal immigrant children. Finally, the poll found that 65-10 percent of Americans are more supportive of SCHIP when knowing the funding would come form an increase in the federal tobacco tax.
This legislation has been swiftly passed an effort for the legislation to reach the desk of President-elect Obama soon after he is inaugurated President. The Senate Finance Committee is expected to vote on their version of the SCHIP legislation tomorrow.