01.13.09 | Rep. Scott Supports the State Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act as a Good First Step to Provide Comprehensive Health Care for America's Uninsured Children
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03) voted in favor of H.R. 2, a bill that reauthorizes the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP):
“Today the US House made a positive step in the goal of covering all of our nations’ children with health insurance. This re-authorization secures the coverage of 7 million children already covered by SCHIP, and provides the resources needed to cover 4 million more children who are currently eligible for SCHIP but for whatever reason do not have coverage. This is a good first step, but obviously more is needed.
“Aside from covering all of the uninsured children in America, we must make sure that the coverage provided is worthwhile. The SCHIP Reauthorization Act gives states the option of including many provisions in their programs that I believe should be mandatory if we seriously want to provide meaningful coverage. These include minimum Early Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) benefits, the coverage of low-income pregnant women, express lanes to eligibility, 12-month continual enrollment periods, and the option for families who are low-income, but above a state’s threshold to buy-in to SCHIP.”
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