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Capitol Comment
by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
Children’s Health Insurance Program: Compassionate and Cost-Effective
February 6, 2009
With the U.S. economy in recession and unemployment soaring, many American families are struggling to meet their fundamental needs: a heated home, groceries, adequate clothing, and medical care. According to health officials, when the economy suffers, many people give up routine care, including checkups, immunizations, and treatment for minor conditions. Without medical attention, many illnesses become significantly worse and more expensive to treat. Unfortunately, a large segment of Texas’ population may face rising obstacles to health care, including 21 percent of our children who are uninsured. Now, more than ever, we must prudently leverage our state and federal resources so children have access to care.
State-provided health coverage for children is a two-dimensional issue. First, every compassionate person knows we should take care of children; their health affects their education and their future. Second, it delivers a cost saving for Texas taxpayers to use federal dollars at a 72 percent match to treat children, rather than state and local taxpayers for emergency room treatment with no federal match.
The State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), a joint federal/state initiative, was created to provide a backstop for children who are ineligible for Medicaid, but whose families cannot otherwise afford health insurance. If not for this program, many children would go without insurance coverage altogether. Economic studies have shown that uninsured individuals either seek treatment for minor infirmities at emergency rooms, or they avoid treatment until an illness or injury becomes serious and costly. Each scenario burdens the health care system with extra, and in many cases avoidable, costs that are often passed on to taxpayers and families in the form of higher insurance premiums and taxes.
Recently, Congress considered legislation to reauthorize this program. The bill was not perfect, and I supported a number of measures to improve the legislation. Though some of the changes we sought were not adopted, I voted for the final SCHIP bill because it provides critical federal funds for young Texans’ health care needs, which are not currently being met. Furthermore, the federal match could ease some of the state budget limitations that have prohibited Texas from doing more to address this growing problem. The Congressional Research Service projects that, under this legislation, Texas’ SCHIP allotment will rise 72 percent from roughly $550 million to over $945 million. This funding will make a significant difference in the lives of families who are struggling to provide their children with care.
The Center for Public Policy Priorities reports that, unfortunately, more than half of our uninsured children in Texas who could be enrolled in Medicaid or SCHIP today are not. Because SCHIP funding is provided to the state in the form of a block grant, if Texas does not utilize these dollars, we will lose them. In fact, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities projects that Texas has forfeited nearly $1 billion in SCHIP funding to other states over the past 10 years – even as the rate of uninsured children in Texas has swelled to the highest in the nation.
During times of hardship, citizens across our state find ways to help Texans who are less fortunate. Likewise, our policies must show compassion to those in need, while also protecting taxpayer dollars. Our state has taken some steps to raise and strengthen these programs, but budget constraints at the state level have impaired its ability to do more. The SCHIP bill, which the President signed into law on February 4, 2009, may address these shortfalls by making funding available to swiftly enroll eligible children so they are provided the necessary medical services without added taxpayer burden. The federal government and the state of Texas can be partners in this vital effort. Together, we must work to provide all children in Texas the foundation for a strong and prosperous future – beginning with proper health care.
Kay Bailey Hutchison is the senior U.S. Senator from Texas and is the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
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