Catholic Charities USA Calls for Quick Action to Prevent Loss of Health Coverage for Children and Low-Income Families 12/23/2003
From: Shelley Borysiewicz of Catholic Charities USA, 703-549-1390 ext. 147 or sborysiewicz@catholiccharitiesusa.org ALEXANDRIA, Va., Dec. 23 -- Catholic Charities USA is calling for quick federal and state action to prevent over a half-a-million children from losing their health coverage. In order to eradicate deep budget deficits, state governments are reducing the number of low-income people enrolled in public health insurance programs such as Medicaid, the States Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), or similar state-funded health programs by 1.2 million to 1.6 million, according to a recent study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The Center's research also found that almost half of those people losing health insurance coverage are children. Large numbers of low-income parents, seniors, people with disabilities, childless adults and immigrants are also losing coverage. These cuts have been achieved through reductions in eligibility limits, changes in procedures that make it more difficult for eligible people to enroll or remain enrolled in the program and increases in premiums that some low-income people cannot afford. Catholic Charities has been very active in working to ensure children have access to health care. As a result of the Children's Health Matters project-an innovative partnership between Catholic Charities agencies and Catholic health facilities-more than 230,000 children have been enrolled in Medicaid or SCHIP from 1999 though 2002. "Many of these children are now in jeopardy of losing their coverage as states scale back public health programs. Millions more children remain without vital health coverage at the same time states are freezing enrollment in their health care programs," said Rev. J Bryan Hehir, president of Catholic Charities USA, who participated in a Center on Budget and Policy Priorities' conference call with reporters on Monday. "States have moral responsibilities to our most vulnerable citizens; children exemplify that vulnerability, especially when they are in need of health care. There is a compelling case for states to review their options, including the possibility of raising taxes for this purpose, to prevent low-income children and families from losing health insurance coverage," said Father Hehir. "And on the federal level, Congress should extend the temporary increase in federal Medicaid matching funds for an additional year." An increase in federal Medicaid matching funds allows states to pay a smaller share of total Medicaid costs. ------ Catholic Charities USA's members -- 1,640 local agencies and institutions nationwide -- provide help and create hope for more than seven million people a year regardless of religious, social, or economic backgrounds. For more than 275 years, local Catholic Charities agencies have been providing a myriad of vital services in their communities, ranging from day care and counseling to food and housing. For more information, visit http://www.catholiccharitiesinfo.org. |