Smith Applauds Agreement on Children’s Health Measure

The agreement reached between the House and Senate will dedicate $35 billion to the reauthorization of SCHIP, allowing the program to cover an additional four million children.

Smith says four million additional kids will be covered with an additional $35 billion agreement.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Senator Gordon H. Smith (R-OR) released the following statement today in response to the agreement reached between U.S. House and Senate leaders on the reauthorization of the States Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

SCHIP is a joint federal-state program that provides health care coverage to low-income children. The program is set to expire at the end of September.

“I am pleased to announce that we have reached a deal that will deliver quality health care coverage to thousands of Oregon’s uninsured children,” said Senator Smith. “Our bill will provide comprehensive health care that equitably treats ailments of both the mind and body. It also corrects harmful Administration policy to that would limit Oregon from extending coverage to more children in need. I urge the President to sign this bill. I fear a veto will put quality health care coverage out of reach for thousands of Oregon's kids.”

The agreement reached between the House and Senate will dedicate $35 billion to the reauthorization of SCHIP, allowing the program to cover an additional four million children. The package utilizes a proposal introduced by Senator Smith to implement a 61 cent increase in the cigarette tax and a commensurate increase on all other tobacco products to pay for the cost of the reauthorization.

Based on legislation by Senators Smith and Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA), the package will correct policies put in place by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that would prohibit states from providing health coverage to children whose family income is above 250 percent of the federal poverty level.

The measure also includes language by Senators Smith and John Kerry (D-MA) to prohibit discriminatory limits on mental health care in SCHIP plans.

The House and Senate are expected to deliver a final bill to the president before the expiration of the program this month.