SCHIP to include an additional 4 million children

The new law will renew and expand the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

President Obama has signed a bill that expands the State Children’s Health Insurance Program to cover an additional 4 million U.S. children during the next four and a half years.

“[The government] stood up for America’s children by reauthorizing the State Children’s Health Insurance Program [SCHIP],” David T. Tayloe, MD, president of the AAP, said in a press release. “This program funds insurance coverage for more than 11 million children nationwide and millions more are eligible but not enrolled. [The government] invested in the future of this country in the passage of this reauthorization.”

The new bill will raise federal taxes on cigarettes between $.61 to $1 per pack to fund the $32.3 billion cost.

“AAP supports this bill because it fulfills the pledge of more than $30 billion in federal funding to provide health care for those currently enrolled in the program and to enroll millions more children — the vast majority of whom are currently eligible for SCHIP or Medicaid but not enrolled,” Tayloe said.

The proposal preserves coverage for as many as 6.7 million children enrolled in the program in addition to 3.9 million more uninsured, low-income U.S. children. – by Jennifer Southall

It was important for SCHIP to be renewed so millions of children will not be without adequate insurance coverage. However, we must be very careful not to raise the percentage above poverty levels too high or many physicians will find their patients with private insurance switching to SCHIP plans. For some practices, this may drive physicians out of practice because physicians have to pay adequately to cover their office expenses and care for their own families.

– Richard Lander, MD

Section on Administrative Practices, American Academy of Pediatrics