Governor Blanco Urges Support of SCHIP Expansion

Press Release

Governor Blanco Urges Support of SCHIP Expansion

With a Congressional vote expected today, Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco called for support of bipartisan Congressional efforts to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). SCHIP provides health care coverage to millions of low-income children across the country. Congressional leaders are rewriting a bill to renew the program, as a September 30 deadline approaches. President Bush had threatened to veto an earlier form of the bill.

"Louisiana's SCHIP program, LaCHIP, was designed to protect those who are at the greatest risk," Governor Blanco said. "It provides coverage for more than 100,000 children in Louisiana who would otherwise be uninsured. SCHIP has been supported by our State Legislature and the US Congress. The health and safety of our state's children is a responsibility we all share."

Gov. Blanco also urged Louisiana's Congressional Delegation and the President to reauthorize federal SCHIP funding. Earlier today, the Governor sent a letter to the Delegation Members stressing the importance of the program. "Under LaCHIP, the percentage of uninsured low-income children in the state has dropped from 31.6 to 12.5 percent. While much progress has been made, Louisiana still has 91,000 uninsured children," said Gov. Blanco, "and all of them deserve access to quality health care. It is paramount to health care in Louisiana that Congress act swiftly to reauthorize SCHIP and for the President to sign the bill into law."

Source