Provider Watch - June 20, 2009 - Health Care Reform and Children

We have been monitoring the health care reform bill that is currently being drafted, edited, and debated in Congress.  One of President Obama’s goal for this bill is that it include coverage for all children with the inclusion of early screening and diagnosis similar to what is found in Medicaid's EPSDT provision.  Unfortunately, the current bill in the House of Representatives does not meet this goal. 

Of similar concern is that the House health care reform proposal and the Senate H.E.L.P. committee proposal will in effect cancel S-CHIP beginning in 2013 and substitute instead a 'health exchange' for which benefits to children will be available. After a decade of work to enhance and secure S-CHIP, national child welfare and mental health agencies are extremely concerned that such a move will have severe inadvertent consequences for children and their families.

On Friday, July 17, there was a push in Congress to include more provisions for children but with a draft due by Wednesday, July 22, there is little time left to advocate for this desperately needed piece of legislation. 

We are urging you to contact your representatives to show them your concern around children’s health care.  With the deadline fast approaching we encourage phone calls to your representatives to both their DC office and their in-the-district office.  All contact information can be found on this website:  http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml#ga

If you are unsure of whom your representative is, that information is also available through the website. 

Thank you for your efforts.  A voice that is united will be heard more readily. 

Below is a short sample email that you can send to your Congressmen and Senators:
 

Dear ______________,

Health care reform is important to all of us.  We are particularly concerned about the nearly one-third of all children in this country that receive their health care through Medicaid and Chip (in Georgia it is called PeachCare.)  Congress should ensure that these children receive comparable or better access to health care under any new health care reform proposal.  Congress must ensure that children do not lose the protections and care that they already have under Medicaid or PeachCare. 

One provision that we would like to see included in any plan is the benefit package that is under Medicaid that includes Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) services, and an expansive definition of "medical necessity" that promotes children's health development and targeted case management.  These services combined with improved accountability provisions will surpass any commercial plan in meeting the needs of low-income children and children with special health needs. 

Please make sure these provisions are in any reform package that may come out of Congress.

Thank you. 
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Provider Watch, an email newsletter of the
Georgia Association of Homes
and Services for Children
as a public service.
http://www.gahsc.org                            
                            Normer Adams, Editor
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