Andrew Parchman, The Examiner
2007-08-16 07:00:00.0
Current rank: Not ranked

WASHINGTON -

Health care coverage for 136,000 Maryland children hangs in the balance as politicians in D.C. struggle to hammer out a new expanded version of a children’s health care bill.

The State Children’s Health Insurance Program, initially passed by Congress in 1997, is set to expire Sept. 30.

“This bill provides health insurance to the children of many of America’s working families,” said U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., who supports the renewal and expansion of the bill. “I helped create SCHIP, and I have been fighting ever since to expand coverage and increase payment to states.”

SCHIP provides joint state- and federal-funded health insurance for children who don’t qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford their own private health insurance.

The House and the Senate both have put through bills to renew SCHIP and expand its coverage. The Senate’s version plans for an additional $35 billion in funding over the next five years — primarily from an increase in tobacco taxes — while the House’s calls for $50 billion. President Bush has threatened to veto such versions of the bill.

Despite the success of SCHIP, 128,000 Maryland children remain without any form of health care, according to a report by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a philanthropic foundation associated with health and health care that supports the new legislation.

As many as three in four of those uncovered children are eligible for SCHIP coverage, according to the report, but have been uninsured due to budget restraints. In states like Maryland, the allotted funds have not been enough to provide care for everyone.

“We made a huge investment in grants to each state to put together public and private coalitions that made sure children got enrolled [in SCHIP],” foundation spokeswoman Elaine Arkin said.

The average recipients of SCHIP aid are children in a family of four with a household income of $40,000, according to government data.

Parents may call 1-877-KIDS-NOW to see whether their uninsured children are eligible for SCHIP aid.

aparchman@baltimoreexaminer.com