Casey amendment is key to making health reform work for kids

Passing health reform is within our sights. An amendment proposed by Senator Bob Casey will make sure reform provides kids with the affordable, comprehensive coverage they need. This may be our last chance to make sure health reform does right by kids.

Ask your Senators to support the Casey Amendment.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Pass health care reform and protect kids

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

Thank you for working to pass health care reform. As you work to pass a bill, please protect kids by supporting the amendment offered by Senator Bob Casey.

The Casey amendment will close gaps in kids' coverage in the current legislation. It builds on proven success of SCHIP and ensures that coverage for kids will be comprehensive and affordable.

The provisions in the Casey amendment are key to continuing the effective partnership in SCHIP between Washington State and the federal government.

In Washington State, the Apple Health for Kids program, made possible through SCHIP, is a success. In the past year over 100,000 kids lost their health coverage when a parent lost employer-based coverage. Nearly all those kids have health coverage today, thanks to Apple Health for Kids. The Casey amendment will enable our state maintain health coverage for kids in this time of economic crisis, and into the future.

Children must come out of health care reform better off, not worse.

Please support the Casey Amendment and ensure that health reform works for America's children and families.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
December 02, 2009

Background Information

Health care reform is desperately needed in Washington State. 640,000 adults in Washington are without insurance, and the number is soaring as more people lose their jobs, and their coverage.

Over 100,000 kids in Washington have lost coverage when their parents lost the coverage they had through their employers. But Apple Health for Kids picked up 98% of those kids. Thanks to Apple Health for Kids those children who lost their parents' coverage can still get the care, screening and immunizations they need.

The Casey Amendment, offered by Senator Bob Casey will ensure that federal health care reform works for kids, and strengthen the partnership that has made Apple Health for Kids in Washington State a success. Learn more about the Casey Amendment:

Read Senator Casey's Press Release

Read a summary of the amendment provided by Voices for America's Children

The Children's Alliance has affirmed broad principles for any health care reform effort, including:

No child should lose coverage or benefits, particularly those currently eligible for Medicaid and CHIP, because of health care reform.
Every child and pregnant woman must have affordable health care coverage.
Every child must have access to a comprehensive and age-appropriate benefits package that supports his/her developmental needs, which includes access to preventive, oral and mental health services.
Coverage must be accessible, automatic, continuous and portable.
Health information technologies must support child health and improve outcomes.
System reform must improve child health measures and accountability.
System improvements must support high-quality clinical and population-based services for optimal maternal and child well-being.
System reform must support prevention and promotion services for children as an efficient strategy for avoiding costly lifelong health and developmental consequences.
System reform must support a strong public health infrastructure and recognize the essential role of safety net providers, including community health centers and school-based health clinics, as critical access points to care for millions of our nation’s children and their families.
System reform must improve coordination of child services across local, state and federal levels and across public-private systems.
System reform must provide substantial funding for evidence-based home visiting programs for at-risk mothers and their young children.
Systems reform must cover as many uninsured as possible by eliminating the five year waiting limit for lawfully present immigrants, avoiding additional verification/documentation requirements on an individual seeking health care through employment, and by covering all in the family if one person in a household is eligible for benefits offered by a health care plan.
System reform must include a Public Option to expand access to affordable health insurance; it is vital to the success of health care reform that a public option to private insurance is established.
System reform must include additional revenues and cannot just rely on cost containment strategies within the health care system.

Read more about health care issues at the Children's Alliance blog. No Kidding!