Tuesday, October 02, 2007

SCHIP: It's Not About the Kids

The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP): it seems it's really about adults:
The bitter battle over children's health care in Washington is threatening to punch a hole in the state's budget and calling into question medical coverage for 130,000 Illinois adults.

Late last week, Congress forwarded legislation reauthorizing the State Children's Health Insurance Program to the White House. But President Bush has vowed to veto the bill -- a move that could come any day.

Illinois has a lot at stake, as 170,000 children and 130,000 adult residents currently get health insurance through SCHIP. Last year, the federal government paid more than $400 million to the state for those services.
No wonder there's likely to be a veto.

-Wes

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I didn't read the article (not going to register for one story), but whatever is said doesn't change the fact that children are innocent here. They aren't responsible for their own health decisions yet, and there's only so much money to go around (especially in our broken system).

Far smarter people I'm sure are trying to do better, but if some adults lose their Medicaid to pay for children's health care, then that's what happens. No [decent] parent eats first before their children (availability, not timing); healthcare shouldn't be any different.