WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, a leading children’s group is praising improvements to made to the House health reform legislation that would guarantee coverage for children’s unique developmental health care needs. Specifically, the House of Representatives’ Education and Labor Committee adopted a critical amendment guaranteeing children who get coverage through the Exchange have access to Early Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment services (EPSDT), as provided through Medicaid.
The amendment was offered by Robert C. Scott, (D-VA) and was approved by a bipartisan vote of 31-17. Today, the Education and Labor Committee approved its section of the health reform legislation by a vote of 26-22.
First Focus, a bipartisan children’s advocacy organization, praised the measure as instrumental to supporting the health care overhaul.
“Prior to the enactment of the Scott amendment, we were concerned that the movement of children out of the Children’s Health Insurance Program and into the Health Insurance Exchange would potentially leave 9 million children worse off by providing fewer benefits and higher cost sharing than they currently have through CHIP,” said Bruce Lesley, President of First Focus. “We are pleased that this legislation was approved by a bipartisan coalition of Representatives, as it will ensure our young people are afforded the comprehensive array of services they need to grow up healthy and strong.”