February 29, 2008 – At a House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee hearing, three Democratic governors urged Congress to block a policy of the Bush administration that hinders the ability of the states to expand their State Children Health Insurance (SCHIP) programs.
“Ohio is currently facing tough economic times and Ohio families are struggling with the increased costs of food, energy, and other everyday expenses,” said Ohio Governor Ted Strickland. “For many of these struggling families Medicaid or SCHIP provides a lifeline that most could not do without.” Strickland continued, “This is a tragedy for Ohio’s uninsured children and their families, for the State of Ohio, and for this country. I believe that Congress must take action now to overturn policies that violate congressional intent and or the law and should prohibit the administration from adopting similar policies or regulations going forward.”
Strickland was joined by Governors Deval Patrick of Massachusetts and Chris Gregoire of Washington state.
“Without continued federal support for and flexibility within the SCHIP program, Healthcare Reform in Massachusetts and elsewhere is in jeopardy,” said Patrick. “Given the benefits to children, to families and to our economy, and the many salient lessons to be learned from Massachusetts and other states on solutions that could work nationally, it is hard for me to understand why we would seriously consider limiting or reducing the reach of either the Commonwealth’s agreements with CMS or the SCHIP program as a whole.”
“It is vital that federal regulators stop creating onerous rules that serve only to bar states from carrying out the programs whose stated goals are to ensure access to coverage for children and youth,” said Gregoire.
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