Congress faces vote on SCHIP funding today
Maryland faces program cuts if bill fails to overcome presidential veto
Congress will vote today on a new bill that could change the status of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which is set to expire on Nov. 16.
Lawmakers will make a second attempt at passing legislation that could increase the program's funding.
President Bush used the fourth veto of his term to reject a bill that would have increased the program's funding by $35 billion over the next five years.
The veto of SCHIP is "particularly a problem in Maryland. In the absence of a new bill there will be a drop in coverage," said Lisa Dubay, an associate professor at the Bloomberg School of Public Health who has studied SCHIP extensively.
SCHIP is an insurance program that covers children who cannot afford private insurance and whose parents do not qualify for Medicaid.
It currently covers children of families who earn up to 200 percent of the poverty level, or $34,340 for a family of four according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
The vetoed bill would have urged states to cover children whose families earn up to 300 percent of the poverty level, or $61,950 for a family of four.
Supporters state that this increase would cover 10 million children. Opponents of the program's expansion worry that it would take the place of private healthcare for those who can afford it.
"Expanding eligibility will crowd out private healthcare coverage," said Bradley Herring, an assistant professor at the Bloomberg School of Public Health and former economic adviser to the White House. "At three times the poverty level, the majority of people have private health care coverage."
SCHIP currently covers more than 6.6 million children and has been funded by $25 billion in federal funds granted to states since 1997, according to CMS.
The vetoed bill would have increased total SCHIP funding to $60 billion, providing the additional funds through a 61 cent increase to the cigarette tax.
Lawmakers will make a second attempt at passing legislation that could increase the program's funding.
President Bush used the fourth veto of his term to reject a bill that would have increased the program's funding by $35 billion over the next five years.
The veto of SCHIP is "particularly a problem in Maryland. In the absence of a new bill there will be a drop in coverage," said Lisa Dubay, an associate professor at the Bloomberg School of Public Health who has studied SCHIP extensively.
SCHIP is an insurance program that covers children who cannot afford private insurance and whose parents do not qualify for Medicaid.
It currently covers children of families who earn up to 200 percent of the poverty level, or $34,340 for a family of four according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
The vetoed bill would have urged states to cover children whose families earn up to 300 percent of the poverty level, or $61,950 for a family of four.
Supporters state that this increase would cover 10 million children. Opponents of the program's expansion worry that it would take the place of private healthcare for those who can afford it.
"Expanding eligibility will crowd out private healthcare coverage," said Bradley Herring, an assistant professor at the Bloomberg School of Public Health and former economic adviser to the White House. "At three times the poverty level, the majority of people have private health care coverage."
SCHIP currently covers more than 6.6 million children and has been funded by $25 billion in federal funds granted to states since 1997, according to CMS.
The vetoed bill would have increased total SCHIP funding to $60 billion, providing the additional funds through a 61 cent increase to the cigarette tax.
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