H.R. 3162, The Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act

Floor Speech

H.R. 3162, THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH AND MEDICARE PROTECTION ACT -- (Extensions of Remarks - September 07, 2007)

* Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Children's Health and Medicare Protection, CHAMP, Act to help ensure that the 68,000 children in Minnesota without health insurance, and the more than 9 million children around the country that are uninsured and underinsured, have access to the critical health care services they need.

* The State Children's Health Insurance Program, SCHIP, in our state, MinnesotaCare, plays an important role in providing health care coverage for millions of lower-income children around the country. It is available for children whose families do not have health insurance, but who do not qualify for Medicaid. Unfortunately, without action from Congress, the law authorizing funding for this important program will expire at the end of September.

* The CHAMP Act reauthorizes SCHIP and improves the program by providing health care for an additional 5 million uninsured children in our nation who are eligible, but not currently enrolled in SCHIP. This bill also grants states the option to expand SCHIP coverage of pregnant women, as well as allowing states to offer health care coverage for older children up to age 21.

* In order to be healthy, children need access to comprehensive health care. For this reason, I joined several of my colleagues to send a letter to Chairman Dingell urging him to include a dental benefit in SCHIP. I strongly support that under this legislation, children enrolled in SCHIP will receive a guaranteed dental benefit.

* Further, because at least 1 in 5 American children and adolescents have a mental health disorder, it is critical that H.R. 3162 requires parity for mental health coverage.

* Not only does this legislation strengthen health care for our kids, it also helps our nation's seniors. The CHAMP Act preserves seniors' access to physicians by preventing a scheduled 10 percent payment cut from going into affect, and actually increasing payments to Medicare physicians by 0.5 percent for the next 2 years.

* H.R. 3162 also includes several provisions to improve the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit. It caps out-of-pocket spending under Part D to 5 percent of annual income and eliminates late enrollment penalties for the lowest income Medicare beneficiaries. Additionally, this legislation expedites the process to qualify for low-income assistance and allows any beneficiary to change plans if a plan changes the formulary in a way that results in reduced access to a prescription for the individual.

* Further, because there are many concerns about rapidly increasing health care costs, this legislation stops overpayments to private Medicare Advantage plans, which will save the 82 percent of Minnesota beneficiaries enrolled in traditional Medicare plans $10.2 million in Part 8 premiums. This bill gradually implements the payment changes, which will allow Medicare beneficiaries to choose the plan that best meets their needs. H.R. 3162 also raises the asset limits to $17,000 for individuals and $34,000 for couples, making it easier for seniors to qualify for assistance with Medicare Part 8 and D costs.

* H.R. 3162 is endorsed by numerous organizations including the AARP, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Children's Defense Fund, Families USA, and the National Rural Health Association. I have included for the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD a list of organizations that have sent letters in support of this legislation.

* Madam Speaker, it is essential that all Americans have access to comprehensive, quality, and appropriate health care. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for this important bill.

CHAMP LETTERS OF SUPPORT

AARP, July 26, 2007; Acute Long Term Hospital Association, July 25, 2007; AFL-CIO, July 26, 2007; AFSCME, July 25, 2007; Alliance for Better Health Care, July 26, 2007; Alliance for Retired Americans, July 25, 2007; American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, July 26, 2007; American Academy of Family Physicians, July 25, 2007; American Academy of HIV Medicine, July 26, 2007; American Academy of Ophthalmology, July 25, 2007; American Academy of Pediatrics, July 25, 2007; American Association of Neurological Surgeons, July 25, 2007; American Clinical Laboratory Association, College of American Pathologists, Genzyme Corporation, Federation of American Hospitals, National Rural Health Association, July 26, 2007; American College of Physicians, June 24, 2007; American Counseling Association &. American Mental Health Counselors Association, July 25, 2007; American Diabetes Association, July 26, 2007; American Federation of Teachers, July 25, 2007; American Gastroenterological Association, July 25, 2007; American Hospital Association, July 26, 2007; American Psychological Association, July 25, 2007;

American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, July 24, 2007; Child Welfare League of America, July 26, 2007; Children's Dental Health Project, July 25, 2007; Coalition of Full Service Community Hospitals, July 25, 2007; Coalition to Preserve Rehabilitation, July 26, 2007; Disability Policy Collaboration, July 26, 2007; Easter Seals, July 26, 2007; Families USA, July 25, 2007; Federation of American Hospitals, July 25, 2007; First Focus, July 26, 2007; Friends of NQF, July 25, 2007; Generic Pharmaceutical Association, July 25, 2007; HIV Medicaid/Medicare Working Group, July 25, 2007; National Alliance on Mental Illness, July 25, 2007; National Association of Insurance Commissioners, July 25, 2007; National Council on Aging, July 26, 2007; National Rural Health Association, July 26, 2007; Illinois Governor Blagojevich, July 26, 2007; Incenter Strategies, July 23, 2007; Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, July 25, 2007; March of Dimes, July 25, 2007; NAACP, July 26, 2007;

National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, July 25, 2007; National Hispanic Medical Association, July 25, 2007; National Medical Association, July 26, 2007; Premier, July 26, 2007; The Arc: and United Cerebral Palsy, July 26, 2007; The Medicare Cost Contractors Alliance, July 25, 2007; The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, July 26, 2007; Three State of New York Heathcare Organizations, July 25, 2007; Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, July 25, 2007.

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