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Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) today lauded the passage of legislation late last week that will ensure New Jersey's Family Care Program has the necessary funds to continue providing health care coverage to all the children currently in the program during the 2007 fiscal year.
Late Friday night, both the U.S. House and Senate approved legislation that includes a provision providing relief to 17 states, including New Jersey, that anticipate funding shortfalls over the upcoming year in their State Children’s Health Insurance Programs (SCHIPs). The NIH Reauthorization Bill includes the provision to direct unspent SCHIP dollars from states with funding surpluses to those with deficits.
New Jersey's SCHIP program, known as NJ Family Care, is currently projected to have a $150 million deficit in 2007. Since SCHIP is jointly financed by states and the federal government, the three New Jersey lawmakers said without the additional funds provided for in this legislation, the state would be forced to either increase its funding of the program or begin eliminating benefits.
“The SCHIP program has been a success in providing health care for hard-working New Jersey families and their children, and it was a program we couldn’t give up on,” Lautenberg said. “I’m pleased that we were able to negotiate a last-minute deal to keep this program moving forward. Now, Congress must make sure that this valuable health program will continue well into the future.”
“Our votes and efforts on the floor of the U.S. Senate reflect not only the conscience of this legislative chamber, but also the values of our nation,” Menendez said. “It would be unconscionable for the Congress to allow states to default in their promise to the neediest children in our nation. I was proud to stand with my colleagues in protecting the programs that protect those Americans most in need.”
"I am very pleased that we were able to pass this vital legislation before Congress adjourned for the year," Pallone said. "Protecting New Jersey's most vulnerable citizens should always be our first priority. This additional funding means more New Jersey children will have access to the medical care they need and deserve."
Since its inception, SCHIP has been played an integral role in reducing the number of uninsured children in New Jersey and across the nation. However, last year, for the first time since 1998, the number of uninsured children in our country increased. The lawmakers noted that the passage of this legislation will prevent even more children from going without critical health care coverage.
SCHIP programs provide comprehensive health insurance coverage to low-income children who would otherwise be uninsured. New Jersey's Family Care program provides health care assistance to 295,000 New Jersey residents. |
