U.S. Senate Passes Children's Health Legislation

From the National Rehabilitation Association's Legislative Network (Patricia Leahy, Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy):

On January 29, the U.S. Senate passed, on a roll call vote of 66-32, The Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (SCHIP). The U.S. House of Representatives passed its version of this legislation on January 14, 2009. The SCHIP program had been scheduled to expire on March 31 of this year. Both bills extend the program for 4-1/2 years and renew the SCHIP program.

Highlights of the bill include continuing coverage for 7 million children currently enrolled in SCHIP, plus an additional 4 million children who do not currently have insurance. The Senate version of the legislation, like its House counterpart, abolishes the five-year waiting period and allows States to offer coverage immediately to children of legal immigrants. The Senate bill will remove higher co-payments and stricter limits on the number of treatment visits, creating parity between mental health services and medical and surgical benefits provided by the plans. The Federal cigarette tax, which is currently at 39 cents a pack, is being raised to $1.00 per pack to cover the extension of SCHIP.

The bill:

• Gives States the option of providing dental coverage to some families with slightly higher incomes and provides additional money to States to recruit and enroll eligible children.
  
• Caps the Federal government’s contribution for children in families above 300 percent of the poverty level.

Both bills are headed to a Conference Committee where they will iron out the differences of the House and Senate versions. The President is expected to sign this legislation, once the Conference Report is completed and passed by both Houses of Congress.