FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE RESOURCES |
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U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. House Passes Health Care Reform Legislation!(2009) Here is the latest from the American Academy of Pediatrics on the health care reform legislation that has passed the House. "The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), which represents 60,000 pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists, and surgical specialists, commends the United States House of Representatives for its vote to pass its health reform bill, the Affordable Health Care for America Act (HR 3962). AAP applauds the House of Representatives for its landmark vote and steadfast commitment to passing significant health reform legislation this year. "While final health reform legislation will ultimately be shaped by bills from both chambers of Congress, the House of Representatives' Affordable Health Care for America Act is a strong first step toward comprehensive health reform, and includes several provisions that ensure children will be better and not worse off as a result of health reform. AAP commends U.S. House leadership and committee staff for their commitment to reforming our health system, specifically the House's deliberate attention to ensuring that children have access to age-appropriate benefits in a medical home. "The House of Representatives' important vote places us as a nation at the closest point we have ever been to passing health reform legislation. The Academy urges the Senate to continue the progress made tonight and pass a final health reform bill in the coming weeks that addresses the unique needs of children. As we stand at a defining moment in both the history and the future of our country, we must remember our children, who will grow up in the system we are currently working to reform, and ensure that they have access to the services they need to grow into the healthy, successful adults of tomorrow." As health care reform begins to work its way through the legislative process, there is much at stake for children and children's health care. The Washginton office of the American Academy of Pediatrics is working closely with congressional leaders and staff, as well as with other child-focused organizations to be sure that the legislation which ultimately comes through provides appropriate coverage to meet children's health needs, including preventive services, subspecialty care, and habilitative services. Things are changing rapidly and it is important that pediatricians stay up to date on what is shaping up for children's health care as the legislative process moves forward. Check in often to the AAP Federal Affairs website http://www.aap.org/advocacy/washing/chi97.htm to get up to the date information and watch for FAAN Alerts in your email. Participate in the process and speak up for children! Resources for Health Care Reform
Making Health Care Work for American Families: Medicaid and Access to Care
Building on a Solid Foundation: Medicaid's Role in a Reformed Health Care System
Beyond Incrementalism? SCHIP and the Politics of Health Reform
Maximizing Kid's Enrollment in Medicaid and SCHIP
Children's Health Insurance Reauthorization Act of 2009: Fact Sheet
Next Steps in Covering Uninsured Children: Findings from the Kaiser Survey of Children's Health Coverage
Medicaid: A Primer
Setting Income Thresholds in Medicaid/SCHIP: Which Children Should be Eligible?
Can Patient-Centered Medical Homes Transform Health Care Delivery?
The Path to a High Performance U.S. Health System: A 2020 Vision and the Policies to Pave the Way
State of the States: Charting the Course: Preparing for the Future, Learning from the Past
On February 4, 2009, President Obama signed SCHIP reauthorization legislation passed by Congress that will provide federal funding to maintain SCHIP insurance coverage for those children already enrolled in the program, as well as provide funds to allow enrollment of millions of eligible but currently uninsured children. According to Dr. David Tayloe, Jr., president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, "today's reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program is a victory for the children of this country. With the stroke of President Obama's pen, states now have the funds to provide insurance coverage to more than 11 million children nationwide. During uncertain economic times, the White House and Congress have come together to wisely prioritize children's health." The reauthorization of CHIP means that more than $30 billion in federal funding will be available to provide health care for those currently enrolled in the program, and to enroll millions more children, the vast majority of whom are currently eligible for CHIP or Medicaid but unenrolled. The legislation also includes the Immigrant Children's Health Improvement Act (ICHIA), which will lift the five-year ban on eligibility for legally residing children and pregnant women in force since 1996. Legislation authorizing SCHIP, the State Children's Health Insurance Program, was enacted in 1997. SCHIP is funded jointly by the federal government and the state. Funds are allocated based on a formula and unused funds are reallocated to other states after a cetain period of time. SCHIP provides coverage to 6 million children, while Medicaid provides coverage to 28 million children. The addition of SCHIP reduced the rate of uninsured children from 23% to 15% once it was implemented. The benefits of SCHIP are many and include regular health care, improved access, and improved quality of care. There have also been positive spillover effects, such that as a result of outreach activities for SCHIP, more Medicaid eligible children were identified and enrolled in Medicaid. In addition, eligibility processes for Medicaid and SCHIP have been simplified and coordination between Medicaid and SCHIP has evolved. In Virginia, SCHIP is known as FAMIS and 90% of uninsured eligible children have been enrolled. Virginia has a "no wrong door" policy such that families can apply at the Department of Social Services (DSS), on-line, by phone, and jointly with Medicaid. FAMIS Moms is another program that covers low income pregnant women, while FAMIS Select allows families to receive $100/month/child to help pay family health insurance premiums to maintain private health insurance.
Today, 9 million children remain uninsured (this is more than the number of children enrolled in 1st and 2nd grades in public education in the U.S.) and 6 million of these are presently eligible for SCHIP. AAP Always Has Up-to-date Information on Federal Legislative IssuesFor up-to-date information on federal legislative issues and how to communicate with your legislators, go to http://www.aap.org/advocacy/washing/chi97.htm
Election Time!Voting is one of the most important ways that you can effectively promote children's health care issues! See the websites below for more information on voting in Virginia. http://www.charlottesville.org/Index.aspx?page=100 http://www.albemarle.org/department.asp?section_id=1827&department=registrar
Federal Legislative ResourcesAAP Department of Federal Affairs The American Academy of Pediatrics maintains an excellent website which contains up to date information on federal legislative issues currently pending in Washington, D.C. Included on this website are a variety of resources for the pediatrician, including sample letters to your elected officials, how to contact your officials, and current issues and "talking points" to include in your communications. Using your zip code, you can readily identify your congressional representatives. You can also track the votes of your federal elected officials! The AAP also maintains at this site a FAAN (Federal Advocacy Action Network) network of interested pediatricians who wish to respond to federal legislative issues as they progress through the legislative process (you can join up right on this site!). This is a quick and easy way to communicate your concerns for children's health and welfare to Washington! http://thomas.loc.gov/ This website (maintained by the Library of Congress) will allow you to find out who represents you in the Senate and the House of Representatives, and how to contact them via mail, phone, fax, or email. You may also track federal legislation from this site using a key word search or by bill number. There is also other information readily available here, such as an overview of the legislative process, as well as links to individual senator and representative websites. Our two senators are Senator Mark Warner (B40C Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510; (202) 224-2023 PHONE;(202) 224-6295 FAX; warner.senate.gove/contact/contact.cfm and Senator Jim Webb (204 Russell Building, Washington, D.C. 20510; (202) 224-4024 PHONE; (202) 224-5432 FAX;http://webb.senate.gov/ ).
Some other useful links:Too Close to Turn Back: Covering America's Children, Center for Children and Families, Georgetown University. This is a very readable summary of the current state of childen's health insurance coverage, the important role of Medicaid and SCHIP, and the need to continue to support these programs. The Health and Well-Being of Children in Rural Areas: A Portrait of the Nation 2005. HRSA has released this new information on rural health. Data can be viewed at the state, regional, and national levels. CAHMI Data Resource Center. The Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative (CAHMI) has just released national- and state-level findings from its 2005/06 National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs (NS-CSHCN). The provides "point and click" online access to new NS-CSHCN data on over 100 child health indicators. Users can also select and download findings for various population subgroups, including household income level, race/ethnicity, and insurance coverage. The NS-CSHCN is a national survey sponsored and designed by the federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau, and administered by the National Center for Health Statistics. The survey provides national and state-specific estimates for children with special health care needs, in combination with other information about their health, health care needs, and the quality of care CSHCN receive.
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