|
Legislation & Politics | ||
Letter to House & Senate urging funding for State Children's Health Insurance ProgramSeptember 27, 2006
Dear Representative/Senator: On behalf of the 1.4 million members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), we are writing to urge you to take action this week to prevent federal funding shortfalls in the coming fiscal year for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Unless the shortfall is addressed, it is expected that 17 or 18 states will have insufficient federal funds to maintain their SCHIP programs in fiscal year 2007. As a consequence, these states may be forced to reduce enrollment by more than one-half million low-income children. Other harmful changes could be made, including reductions in benefits, greater beneficiary cost-sharing or cuts to providers. We applaud all efforts to address the shortfall, which is estimated to be as high as $950 million. In particular, we commend legislation (H.R. 6098/S. 3913) introduced by Representatives John Barrow, Leonard J. Boswell and John D. Dingell/Senator John D. Rockefeller, as it would fully address the shortfall. As recently reported by the U.S. Census Bureau, the number and percentage of children (under age 18) without health insurance increased in 2005. It is crucial that the Congress act immediately to prevent another half-million children from being added to the rolls of the uninsured. Sincerely, |
 |
||
.gif)
