The U.S. Senate has passed legislation to extend the State Child Health Insurance Program, or “SCHIP” and increase funding for the program by $35 billion over the next five years. The bill provides funding sufficient enough to cover all 6.6 million children currently enrolled and to expand to cover an additional 3.3 million low-income children. The bill also includes provisions backed by Senator Collins that would provide greater dental coverage for low-income children, require plans offering mental health benefits to provide coverage that is equivalent to other health services, and give states the option of covering low-income pregnant women. Senator Collins, who ten years ago sponsored the legislation that created the SCHIP program, voted in support of the bill and released this statement:
“One of the first bills that I sponsored when I came to the Senate 10 years ago was the legislation that established the SCHIP program. Since 1997, SCHIP has contributed to a one-third decline in the uninsured rate of low-income children. Today, over six million children – including 14,500 in Maine – receive health care coverage from this remarkably effective health care program. Since its creation, SCHIP has partnered with Medicaid to help ensure that children have the health care that they need.
“Unfortunately, the authorization for this program expires on September 30th, and there is more that must be done to meet the growing needs of children who lack health insurance coverage.
“That is why is I am so pleased that the Senate has passed legislation to extend and strengthen this important program. Our bill, which passed with strong bipartisan support, increases funding for SCHIP by $35 billion over the next five years, a level which is sufficient to maintain coverage for all 6.6 million children currently enrolled, and also allows the program to expand to cover an additional 3.3 million low-income children.
“The Senate bill also eliminates the state shortfall problems that have plagued the SCHIP program, and it provides additional incentives to encourage states to increase outreach and enrollment, particularly of the lowest-income children. In short, this is a prescription for good health for millions of our nation’s children.”