Support SCHIP and the Unborn Child Rule
Wednesday,October, 31 ,2007 Filed in: Justice Issues
Please call your Senators and tell them to support a State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) bill that includes codifying the unborn child rule. The Senate is expected to vote on the SCHIP bill the week of October 29.
Contact info
Senator Lugar 202-224-4814 or senator_lugar@lugar.senate.gov
Senator Bayh 202-224-5623 or http://bayh.senate.gov/LegForm.htm
Contact info
Senator Lugar 202-224-4814 or senator_lugar@lugar.senate.gov
Senator Bayh 202-224-5623 or http://bayh.senate.gov/LegForm.htm
Action Needed:
Congress should improve the SCHIP bill and garner strong bipartisan support. The bill can be improved in ways that will strengthen and increase support for SCHIP by making the regulation providing states the option to enroll the unborn child in their SCHIP programs permanent.
A final SCHIP reauthorization should codify the unborn child rule, so states are secure in being able to choose life-affirming health services for needy children and their mothers without involvement in abortion. Without the unborn child option, the only way states could provide prenatal care would be by defining the pregnant woman as the patient in need of “child health assistance.” Many children born as U.S. citizens would not receive needed prenatal care because of their mother’s immigration status.
The legislation should also maintain and expand coverage, reduce enrollment barriers, and expand outreach. Sufficient funding should be included in order to provide health care coverage to an additional four million more low-income children, reducing the number of uninsured children by nearly half.
Congress should improve the SCHIP bill and garner strong bipartisan support. The bill can be improved in ways that will strengthen and increase support for SCHIP by making the regulation providing states the option to enroll the unborn child in their SCHIP programs permanent.
A final SCHIP reauthorization should codify the unborn child rule, so states are secure in being able to choose life-affirming health services for needy children and their mothers without involvement in abortion. Without the unborn child option, the only way states could provide prenatal care would be by defining the pregnant woman as the patient in need of “child health assistance.” Many children born as U.S. citizens would not receive needed prenatal care because of their mother’s immigration status.
The legislation should also maintain and expand coverage, reduce enrollment barriers, and expand outreach. Sufficient funding should be included in order to provide health care coverage to an additional four million more low-income children, reducing the number of uninsured children by nearly half.