House passes new SCHIP Bill

With 9 million uninsured children currently in the US the House voted to provide health insurance for children.

On October 25 the House of Representatives for the third time this year passed a new bill to reauthorize and expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), One day after it was introduced. However it again failed to attain a majority that would prevent a veto by the president.

The House approved the new legislation by a 265-142 vote. That vote also fell short of the two-thirds that would be needed to override a presidential veto.

The new bill mirrors the earlier version which was vetoed by Bush, but contains a number of changes made in an effort by Democratic leaders to attract greater support for the program.

The new bill clarifies that states would receive federal funding for children enrolled in the program only if their families have incomes of 300 percent of the poverty level or less, up to $51,510, for a family of three.

The bill would phase out coverage of childless adults after one year, rather than two.

The bill clarifies that states would not receive federal funding for payments made to non-citizens. The Social Security Administration would be required to verify name, Social Security number, and place of birth of enrollees and applicants.

Like the vetoed bill, the new bill would add $35 billion to the program over five years to insure more children whose parents do not qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford private insurance.

Total funding for SCHIP would be $60 billion. Supporters of the legislation estimate it would allow 10 million children to participate in the program, up from the 6.6 million currently covered.

The extra $35 billion proposed by the bill would be funded by a federal tax increase on tobacco products. Most significantly, the bill would increase the tax on cigarettes by 61 cents, to $1 per pack. It would impose additional tax increases on other tobacco products, including cigars and pipe tobacco.

This cigarette tax increase to support funding for the new program is strongly opposed by the Bush administration as per Michael Leavitt secretary of Health and Human Services.

Opponents of the earlier bill expressed concerns that the bill to add $35 billion to the State Children's Health Insurance Program would cover adults and families who earn up to $83,000 annually, as well as illegal immigrants.

The new version would strengthen the original bill's eligibility cap at 300 percent of poverty but phase childless adults off the program within one year instead of two, and clarify language stating that illegal immigrants will not be eligible.

As per the White House news release the president’s concerns with the new bill are
· The new legislation continues to allow States to avoid covering poor children first.
· The new legislation continues to cover children in families earning more than $62,000 per year (300 percent of the Federal poverty level).
· The new legislation continues to raise taxes to move 2 million children covered by private health insurance onto government-run programs.
· The new legislation continues to allow SCHIP to cover ineligible individuals.
· The new legislation shifts more responsibility to the Federal government.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/10/20071025-6.html

With Election Day looming in days and the support of 75-80% of Americans SCHIP is a priority and may be up for another vote as early as Thursday.

Remember make your voice heard VOTE Election Day November 6th