Emanuel Announces Mounting Support for Healthy Kids Act: DLC, SEIU Back Bipartisan Healthcare Bill

Emanuel Announces Mounting Support for Healthy Kids Act: DLC, SEIU Back Bipartisan Healthcare Bill

Today, U.S. Representative Rahm Emanuel announced the support of the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) for the Healthy Kids Act. This bipartisan proposal would provide uninsured children with access to quality health care by streamlining the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) enrollment process and providing states with the resources they need to provide coverage to eligible children. The Healthy Kids Act will also provide families that are not eligible for Medicaid or SCHIP with a Healthy Savings Tax Credit, which they can use to purchase health coverage for their children. U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO) also announced she will sign on to the legislation as an original co-sponsor.

"If there is one thing we can all agree on, it is that our children deserve a chance to grow up healthy and strong, and it is our responsibility to ensure they have access to quality, affordable health care," said Emanuel. "And according to a New York Times/CBS News poll released today, an overwhelming majority of Americans support SCHIP."

According to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll conducted February 23rd through 27th, Americans overwhelming support the State Children's Health Insurance Program. In fact the New York Times reported a majority of Americans "thought the lack of health insurance for many children was a ‘very serious' problem for the country."

"I am glad to be among the bipartisan supporters of this important effort to expand health care coverage for American children. Access to quality care is more important for the 9 million uninsured American children than for any other segment of the population. Their success in life, the quality of their education, and their physical and mental development depend on regular, reliable access to a doctor. Refundable tax credits and streamlined enrollment processes for state programs would be a valuable incentive for families to address the insurance needs of their youngest members. I'm very proud to be a part of this legislation," said U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson.

SCHIP has made significant progress in reducing the number of uninsured children, but nearly nine million children still lack health coverage. Two-thirds of these children are eligible for Medicaid or SCHIP, but not enrolled. For the first time since 1998, the rate of uninsured children increased, from 10.8 percent to 11.2 percent. The Healthy Kids Act will reverse this trend by directly addressing the lack of access to affordable health insurance for these children.

"Ultimately, the federal government can and must move toward truly universal health coverage," said the DLC in its endorsement letter. "But given the Bush administration's adamant opposition to such efforts; the current crisis in children's health coverage; and the strong, bipartisan support for ‘covering kids first;' the Health Kids Act is an important and practical step toward universal coverage that can be implemented right away. The moral case for immediate action to cover kids is unimpeachable. And the political case for taking this step, this year, should be irresistible as well."

The Healthy Kids Act provides enough resources to ensure that no child who is currently enrolled in SCHIP loses coverage. Specifically, the legislation will provide financial incentives and resources to states to increase enrollment in Medicaid and SCHIP. States that implement five policies to streamline the enrollment process would receive an increase on their federal matching rate for children's coverage in Medicaid and SCHIP. Additionally, this legislation will provide states with new options to expand coverage to hard to reach populations. For example, children who have qualified for other means-tested programs including food stamps, WIC, and school lunches will automatically be deemed income eligible for Medicaid or SCHIP.

"The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) applauds the bipartisan introduction of the Healthy Kids Act of 2007. The State Children's Health Insurance Program should be reauthorized and significantly expanded in 2007, and the Healthy Kids Act includes many of the provisions that the SEIU has long supported, including: more aggressive outreach and enrollment activities, more funding to states to absorb increased enrollment and to account for health care inflation, a meaningful benefit package with more continuous coverage, and a limited, practical tax credit that families can use to purchase qualified group coverage. In addition, SEIU supports the revenue provisions of HR 878 included in the Healthy Kids Act," wrote SEIU International Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger in a letter of support.

Additionally, the Healthy Kids Act will provide families with a Healthy Savings Tax Credit so they can purchase employer-based health coverage for their children. If the family does not have access to such coverage, they can buy into a state-designated coverage plan.

The Healthy Kids Act will cost approximately $60 billion over five years. By implementing the Simplification through Additional Tax Reporting Tax (START) Act of 2007 [HR 878], and closing the capital gains tax gap, over the next five years, we will raise more than the $60 billion and pay for the Healthy Kids Act.

Emanuel unveiled his plan at a press conference this month with Jim Ramstad (R-MN), Mike Ross (D-AR), Ray LaHood (R-IL), Allyson Schwartz (D-PA), and Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH). Emanuel unveiled his plan with the support of America's Health Insurance Plans, American Hospital Association, Healthcare Leadership Council, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Ascension Health, Kaiser Permanente, American Medical Association, Johnson & Johnson, Families USA, Federation of American Hospitals, American Academy of Family Physicians, UnitedHealth Group, Catholic Health Association and American Public Health Association are members of the Health Care Coalition for the Uninsured (HCCU). HCCU is a diverse group of national organizations with an interest in ensuring all Americans have access to quality health care. This group represents a wide range of political and ideological interests and set aside their differences in the interest of uninsured Americans. The Healthy Kids Act implements Phase I of the framework set forth by this historic coalition.

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/il05_emanuel/support_healthy_kids_2007.html