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Greetings,
The
U.S. House of Representatives has introduced its comprehensive
health reform bill and is expected to bring it to the House
floor as early as Friday. The bill, H.R. 3962, contains many
provisions that would improve access to health coverage for
vulnerable children and families. There are serious concerns
about the bill, including the treatment and benefits of children
receiving coverage through the Children's Health Insurance
Program (CHIP), but it is important to move health reform
forward! Call your U.S. Representative today and tell him/her to
support health reform and in doing so, to not leave children
worse off!
ACTION
REQUIRED
THE MESSAGE
Support H.R. 3962 so that comprehensive health
reform legislation moves forward!
Do no harm to children. I am concerned about
children covered by CHIP and would like to see stronger
assurances that their coverage will not be compromised or
reduced.
Vulnerable children and families will be helped by
many provisions in H.R. 3962, particularly:
-
the expansion of Medicaid to 150% of the
federal poverty level;
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the temporary extension of the Recovery Act's
increased Medicaid and Title IV-E
match;
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funding for home visitation programs;
and
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protection for therapeutic foster care
programs.
BACKGROUND
The U.S. House and Senate are
finalizing comprehensive health reform legislation and hope
to bring bills to the House and Senate floors in the near
future. The House is moving first, having introduced its health
reform legislation, the Affordable Health Care for America Act
(H.R. 3962). While the bill is not perfect, it does contain many
provisions that will increase access to comprehensive health
coverage for vulnerable children, youth, and families. Amongst
other steps forward, the bill would expand Medicaid to cover
millions more low-income individuals; would provide subsidies to
vulnerable individuals and families to purchase health coverage;
would protect access to Medicaid and foster care services by
temporarily extending the Recovery Act's increased Medicaid and
Title IV-E match; would provide new funding for home visitation
programs; and would protect therapeutic foster care programs.
One significant concern about H.R. 3962 is
that is does not reauthorize the Children's Health Insurance
Program (CHIP) after 2013. CHIP provides comprehensive health
coverage to over 6 million low-income children. Instead of
reauthorizing the program, H.R. 3962 would transition CHIP
children into a newly created health insurance exchange, where
it is uncertain and unclear whether children's benefits would be
age-appropriate and adequate. Children must not be left worse
off as a result of health reform and lawmakers must include
language ensuring comprehensive health coverage for all
children!
For a detailed summary of how H.R.
3962 would impact vulnerable children, youth, and families, see
http://www.cwla.org/advocacy/CWLA_Health_Reform_Bill_Summary.pdf.
More resources may be viewed at http://www.cwla.org/advocacy/healthreformresources.htm.
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