Post by Okwes on Jul 24, 2007 9:04:47 GMT -5
Kids Face Cutbacks in Health Coverage
By Richard Wolf
USA Today
(March 9) - A 10-year-old national program that has helped 6.6 million
children get health insurance faces cutbacks here Sunday, and more states could
follow unless _Congress_ (javascript:
grants new funding.
Georgia's PeachCare for Kids program, part of the national Children's Health
Insurance Program (CHIP), will freeze enrollment because of a federal
funding shortfall that threatens 13 other states. New Jersey, Iowa, Mississippi and
other states say cuts may be required later this year.
The program - which provides subsidized insurance for children whose
families are not eligible for Medicaid - has helped trim the percentage of uninsured
kids nationwide to 11.2% in 2005 from 15% in 1997. It is running out of
money because of inflation, higher enrollment and program expansions.
The problem is worst in Georgia, where _Republican_ (javascript: Gov.
Sonny Perdue has warned of Sunday's cuts. "It's not a game. It's not
brinksmanship," he said. "It's fiscal responsibility."
Democrats in Congress want to add $745 million to a bill funding the _Iraq_
(javascript: war to take care of this year's shortfalls. Unless the
federal government raises its $5 billion annual stake in the program, however, 35
states could face shortfalls by 2012, and 1.5 million children could lose
coverage.
Advocates see the program as a precursor to universal coverage. Sen. Edward
Kennedy, D-Mass., and others want to spend $60 billion over five years to
enroll another 6 million eligible children whose families are either unaware of
the program or have chosen not to join. _President Bush_ (javascript:
wants to add $4.8 billion over five years but refocus on poor children. Fourteen
states cover adults under the children's program.
Under Georgia's new policy, enrollment will be frozen, leaving out an
estimated 3,000 children a month. The approximately 10,000 families a month that
fall behind on premiums will be cut off. In those cases, families either pay
out of pocket, receive free care, the costs of which are passed on to others,
or go without.
Among states facing shortfalls:
--New Jersey may run out of money this month. It hopes to get additional
federal aid, but "there is still an element of risk," says Suzanne Esterman of
the state Department of Human Services.
--Iowa will run out of money at the end of June. Anita Smith, chief of the
Bureau of Medical Supports, says 13,300 of 22,000 children could lose
coverage.
--Mississippi may face cutbacks this summer, says Francis Rullan of the
state's Division of Medicaid.
Other states facing shortfalls are Alaska, Illinois, Maine, Maryland,
Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Rhode Island and Wisconsin.
By Richard Wolf
USA Today
(March 9) - A 10-year-old national program that has helped 6.6 million
children get health insurance faces cutbacks here Sunday, and more states could
follow unless _Congress_ (javascript:
grants new funding. Georgia's PeachCare for Kids program, part of the national Children's Health
Insurance Program (CHIP), will freeze enrollment because of a federal
funding shortfall that threatens 13 other states. New Jersey, Iowa, Mississippi and
other states say cuts may be required later this year.
The program - which provides subsidized insurance for children whose
families are not eligible for Medicaid - has helped trim the percentage of uninsured
kids nationwide to 11.2% in 2005 from 15% in 1997. It is running out of
money because of inflation, higher enrollment and program expansions.
The problem is worst in Georgia, where _Republican_ (javascript:
Gov. Sonny Perdue has warned of Sunday's cuts. "It's not a game. It's not
brinksmanship," he said. "It's fiscal responsibility."
Democrats in Congress want to add $745 million to a bill funding the _Iraq_
(javascript:
war to take care of this year's shortfalls. Unless the federal government raises its $5 billion annual stake in the program, however, 35
states could face shortfalls by 2012, and 1.5 million children could lose
coverage.
Advocates see the program as a precursor to universal coverage. Sen. Edward
Kennedy, D-Mass., and others want to spend $60 billion over five years to
enroll another 6 million eligible children whose families are either unaware of
the program or have chosen not to join. _President Bush_ (javascript:
wants to add $4.8 billion over five years but refocus on poor children. Fourteen
states cover adults under the children's program.
Under Georgia's new policy, enrollment will be frozen, leaving out an
estimated 3,000 children a month. The approximately 10,000 families a month that
fall behind on premiums will be cut off. In those cases, families either pay
out of pocket, receive free care, the costs of which are passed on to others,
or go without.
Among states facing shortfalls:
--New Jersey may run out of money this month. It hopes to get additional
federal aid, but "there is still an element of risk," says Suzanne Esterman of
the state Department of Human Services.
--Iowa will run out of money at the end of June. Anita Smith, chief of the
Bureau of Medical Supports, says 13,300 of 22,000 children could lose
coverage.
--Mississippi may face cutbacks this summer, says Francis Rullan of the
state's Division of Medicaid.
Other states facing shortfalls are Alaska, Illinois, Maine, Maryland,
Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Rhode Island and Wisconsin.