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HungerNetOhio
#6.1
Reauthorization of Children's Health Insurance
Email
conversations about "ending hunger in Ohio through changing conditions
which cause poverty"
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Advocates for reducing
hunger |
| FROM |
Hunger Network in
Ohio |
| ABOUT |
Immediate
Congressional Action Needed on SCHIP |
The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) is due to expire
March 31st, following its extension after the 2007-08 attempts to
re-authorize the program were vetoed. Bills to continue that
program and add coverage for an additional 4 million children have been
introduced. The bill is before the House and the Senate Finance
Committee has begun meeting to prepare its version. The House
bill could come up for a vote as early as today. Then the focus moves
to the Senate with those committee considerations this week followed by
the full Senate by later this or early next week.
It is anticipated that the House bill, which will include lifting the
5-year ban on health care for documented immigrant children, will move
quickly and, hopefully, pass. While anticipated in some form, passage
in the Senate will be more difficult. A major stumbling block is
the Senate Finance Committee where there is disagreement over the issue
of documented immigrant children.
SHORT
CUT:
For those who insist, "JUST TELL ME WHAT TO DO!"
CALL TOLL-FREE
NUMBER: 1-888-797-8717 (*) OR 1-800-828-0498 (**)
SUPPORT IS NEEDED IMMEDIATELY AND PRIORITIZED AS FOLLOWS:
o SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP
SENATOR MAX BAUCUS, CHAIR
SENATOR CHUCK GRASSLEY,
RANKING MEMBER
o ALL SENATORS - NOW UNTIL THE SENATE BILL IS PASSED
o NEWLY-ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE - NOW UNTIL THE BILL IS PASSED
o ALL MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE - IMMEDIATELY AND UNTIL THE BILL IS PASSED
PLEASE MAKE CALLS TO BOTH SENATORS BROWN AND VOINOVICH AND YOUR
REPRESENTATIVE (***)
LONG
SUIT:
For those who plead, "GIVE ME MORE DETAILS"
Background
The new Congress has decided to take swift action on the State
Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), the same program President
Bush vetoed twice last year. This legislation expands health care for
kids who are in working families that make too much to qualify for
Medicaid, but who don't make enough to afford private insurance.
The House of Representatives could vote as early as today. The Senate
will soon follow. Once this happens, we hope the two chambers will
reconcile their differences quickly - and it should land on the new
President's desk soon.
It is critical Congress act quickly. With our economy in crisis, SCHIP
is more important than ever. More than 1 million children have lost
their health coverage because their parents were laid off and lost
their employer-based coverage over the past year. The proposed
legislation would provide essential health coverage to those kids
already enrolled in the program and allow an additional 4 million
children to qualify for coverage.
It is also important that Congress pass an SCHIP bill that addresses
existing inequities in our health care system. Currently, legal
immigrant children and pregnant women must wait five years before they
become eligible for federally funded Medicaid and SCHIP. Congress
should include the "Legal Immigrant Children's Health Improvement Act"
(ICHIA) in SCHIP reauthorization to remove this arbitrary waiting
period. No child should have to wait five years for basic health
care.
Additional
Reasons for Supporting This Legislation
o SCHIP is one of the greatest social policy successes in recent years,
and we need to continue the progress for children in low income
families.
o With unemployment now over 7 percent, America's families need access
to affordable coverage options for their children more than ever.
The SCHIP reauthorization bill offers an initial step to provide
America's families with the help they need during the downturn.
o State budgets in crisis and more families needing help than ever
before call for a SCHIP reauthorization that is as long and as stable
as possible. States will be unable to move forward in covering
more children if they are uncertain about the federal government's
long-term commitment to SCHIP.
SCHIP
works for Ohio
Covering uninsured children through Medicaid and the State Children's
Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) has been the most successful and
efficient health reform effort in recent years. Medicaid and SCHIP have
reduced the number of uninsured children in Ohio by one-third -even as
health care costs have risen and eroding employer-based coverage has
gotten less affordable and less available. During federal fiscal year
2007, more than 230,000 Ohio children were covered at some point by
SCHIP, and more than 800,000 Ohio children had Medicaid coverage. These
children would otherwise have been uninsured, and the need is expected
to grow as the economy worsens.
Medicaid/SCHIP provides access to quality health care that helps
children grow up healthy, learn well in school and become productive
citizens. Medicaid/ SCHIP also offers cost-effective care that spends
scarce health dollars on preventive care and early detection, instead
of expensive emergency room care.
Tips
for Calling
Call the toll-free number which will connect you to the Capitol
Switchboard. Ask for the office of your Senator or Representative
and then proceed with your message.]
My name is ___________, and I live in [city]__________,
[state]______. I am a member of [name of your faith community]
____________________________________.
The purpose of my call is to urge Senator [or Representative]
_____________ to support expanded health care for children. I believe
that children are sacred gifts entrusted to our care, and it's immoral
that in the richest country in the world millions of children can't get
the health care they need. It will take all of us to ensure that
our children are given the chance to live whole and healthy
lives. Senate [or House] support will be an important step in
that direction.
[Insert an additional talking point from those listed below or from the
concerns and priorities of your own faith community.]
While we work toward health care for all, we must make our children a
national priority. Please vote YES for expanding health care for
more children in our country. Thank you!
Additional
Talking Points:
(Pick just one)
I also urge the Senator to support the elimination of the 5 year
waiting period for documented immigrant children. Five years is a
life time for a child and can compromise a child's development into
his/her fullest potential!
Or…
I also urge the Senator to avoid citizen documentation requirements
that create undue barriers to enrollment for citizen children. Denying
health care for lack of sufficient paperwork defies our values of
inclusiveness, community, and compassion.
More
on Inclusion of Immigrant Children's Coverage
See New York Times article below, “Congress Set to Renew Health Care
for Children”
PRIMARY
REFERENCES AND LINKS
* This toll-free number was made possible with support from the United
Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministries
** This Toll-free and action alert language provided by Families USA
***
Faithful Reform in Health Care. Linda Walling
[mailto:walling@faithfulreform.org]
See “Congress Set to Renew Health Care for Children” by Robert Pear
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/13/us/13health.html?_r=1&ref=us
CALL TO ACTION: OHIO'S CHILDREN NEED STRONG SCHIP
REAUTHORIZATION. Amy N. Swanson Sandy Erb Wilson. Voices for Ohio's
Children. 1.12.09; aswanson@vfc-oh.org
[haho] SCHIP Call to Action from Voices for Ohio's Children:
Action Needed by January 14. Rebecca Wilson. 1.12.09; Strategic
Communications: Consulting for Non-Profits;
rebeccaswilson@sbcglobal.net
rswilson@raex.com
“Speak Out! Critical Vote on Kid's Health Approaching.” 1.13.09;
Coalition on Human Need; chn@mail.democracyinaction.org
“[Have a Heart Ohio] SCHIP and Immigration Alert!” 1.13.09; UHCAN-Ohio;
crudolph@uhcanohio.org
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