Nearly 170 Organizations Join in Opposition to August 17th SCHIP Directive
May 15, 2008
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, 170 national, state, and local organizations from across the nation stood together expressing their opposition to a directive to states issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding coverage under the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The letter was sent to President George W. Bush, U.S. Department of Health and Human Service Mike Leavitt, as well as House and Senate leadership.
The joint letter expresses concern that children will lose coverage as a result of CMS’ policy change, originally issued on August 17, 2007, with an additional guidance issued on May 7, 2008. The letter also urges Congress to quickly enact legislation imposing a moratorium on this directive.Spearheaded by First Focus, a bipartisan children’s advocacy organization, the letter has been signed by national leaders such as the National Association of Community Health Centers, the American Association of School Administrators, AARP, Children’s Health Fund, the United Way of America, and many others. In addition, an extraordinary number of state-based organizations have signed onto the letter.
“The outpouring of opposition to the CMS directive from groups across the nation is a testament to how unpopular this regulation is nationwide and the burden it will put on states who are trying to provide health coverage for every eligible child,” said Bruce Lesley, president of First Focus. “As groups representing a wide spectrum of interests from across the nation, it is a clear indication how bad the directive is for our nation’s children.”
“In particular, we are concerned that scores of children who are currently enrolled in the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) will lose coverage as a result of this policy change. Unfortunately, the letter CMS sent to states on May 7, 2008, which seeks to clarify the directive’s requirements, does not change the policy outlined in the August 17 directive and, sadly, does nothing to mitigate its impact. States still must overcome serious hurdles before they can provide SCHIP coverage to uninsured children in working families and children – even those who lose a parent or whose parents become unemployed – will be subject to a one-year waiting period before they will be eligible for coverage under SCHIP,” the letter reads.
Click here to read a copy of the letter.
