Sen. Gillibrand calls for renewed CHIP funding, health insurance for 350,000 New York kids at risk

Watertown Daily Times (NY)

Oct. 18--U.S. Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand held a conference call Tuesday afternoon, calling out Senate Republicans and urging New Yorkers to fight back against cuts to funding for children's health insurance.

"Health care is one of the most contentious and partisan issues," Sen. Gillibrand said in her opening remarks. "One program that is working well and has enjoyed broad bipartisan support is the Children's Health Insurance Program."

The Child Health Plus Program, which began in New York in the 1990s and nationally became the Children's Health Insurance Program, enrolled 346,067 children in New York alone last year.

However, CHIP funding was allowed by Congress to expire Oct. 1, putting the program and the state relying at severe financial risk.

"I believe this is the most significant health issue for the people of our state, and it is the federal government assaulting, literally, the children of this state," said Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, blasting the Congressional inaction in a public statement earlier this month.

"If we continue (the CHIP plan) after the feds pull out, that's $1 billion directly to the State of New York without any sharing from any of the local governments because we pay for that directly ... why a government would want to end health insurance for 333,000 children is beyond me and we use the word draconian and I think that's a fitting word," he continued.

Sen. Gillibrand called New York one of the luckier states, as it would be able to fund the program into next March, while for many the money will run out much quicker.

Still, Department of Health Commissioner Howard Zucker warned in a public statement last week that should Congress fail to renew federal funding for the program, Gov. Cuomo would be forced to call a special session of the Legislature in Albany to address the major budget shortfall.

Nearly 9 million kids are covered by CHIP nationwide.

The program covers children in families that make too much to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to afford other health coverage options.

Almost 90 percent of children in CHIP come from families making less than the equivalent of $49,000 per year for a family of four.

North Country Family Health Center is a federally qualified health clinic in Watertown, and assists in the enrollment of on average 200 children in CHIP each year.

The center provides care for approximately 165 CHIP enrolled kids annually as well.

"We know firsthand the important connection between health insurance coverage and access to care and are concerned for the children and families we serve who are covered by (CHIP) currently," Executive Director Joey M. Horton said in an email.

"Particularly for necessary preventative services that are so important in childhood such as annual physical examinations, preventative dental visits, and vaccinations. No family should have to decide whether or not their child should receive needed healthcare because of their inability to pay for that care."

North Country also offers a sliding fee scale, based on income, to all patients to help eliminate cost as a barrier to health care. When asked about the seeming lack of progress to reinstate funding for CHIP, Sen. Gillibrand cited a bipartisan bill to save the program.

The bill was passed by the Senate Finance Committee, but has not been brought up for a vote by Senate Republican leadership.

Sen. Gillibrand blamed a single-minded focus by Republicans to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

"We need to keep urging (Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.) to let us vote on it," she said.

"It remains a priority of the Health Center, along with other Community Health Centers, to ensure our elected officials know how important it is to take action now to protect these vital services in our community," Ms. Horton continued.

"I will continue to fight and I urge all New Yorkers to raise their voices with me," Sen. Gillibrand said. "We must protect our most vulnerable children."

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