“Unnecessary, bureaucratic barriers to enrollment harm the health of our kids. The Children’s Health and Medicare Protection Act ensures that kids across Florida and my neighbors in the Tampa Bay area have access to affordable health care and preventative care. This important investment will pay dividends down the road and reduce the strain on crowded local emergency rooms.” U.S. Representative Kathy Castor

    U.S. Representative Kathy Castor today led the fight for the Children’s Health and Medicare Protection Act on the floor of the House of Representatives. The bill reauthorizes the State Children’s Health Insurance Program known in Florida as KidCare and Healthy Kids. It includes key provisions from Castor’s Improving Children’s Access to Health Care Act, which was introduced earlier this year.

    Eliminating bureaucratic red tape so that parents can easily take their children to the doctor’s office has been Castor’s top priority since her days as a Hillsborough County Commissioner. Castor spearheaded a collaborative outreach effort on the local level with local hospitals and the Lawton and Rhea Chiles Center for Healthy Mothers and Babies to assist parents and children with access to affordable health care prior to her election to Congress. She has continued her fight for Florida’s kids in Washington.

    “Unnecessary, bureaucratic barriers to enrollment harm the health of our kids,” said Castor. “This bill ensures that kids across the state and my neighbors in the Tampa Bay area have access to affordable health care and preventative care. This important investment will pay dividends down the road and reduce the strain on crowded local emergency rooms.”

    Castor, who represents the so-called “Cigar City” explained, “The treatment of the cigar tax in the House version of this bill is light years away from how it was treated in the Senate,” said Castor. “We beat back the Senate proposed $10 to less that $1 thanks to a significant effort on the part of the House members.”

    “For many working families in my district and across America, this low-cost insurance is the only way to make ends meet,” said Castor. “Without it, they would live in constant fear of a kid getting sick, and having to make the heartbreaking choice between a trip to the grocery store or a trip to the doctor’s office. I am proud to stand up for the parents and kids in my district and their ability to see a doctor to soothe a fever and keep them growing healthy and strong.”

    Florida SCHIP covers children with family incomes up to 200 percent of poverty ($34,340 for a family of three in 2007). In 2006, Florida KidCare covered 303,595 children. Still, 718,603 Florida children remain uninsured and struggle to afford trips to see pediatricians and nurses on a regular basis. SCHIP reauthorization under the House proposal will cover more kids.

    The Children’s Health and Medicare Protection Act incorporates outreach and enrollment “best practices” from Castor’s Improving Children’s Access to Health Care Act. These provisions are needed to help Florida insure more of the 500,000 children who are eligible but not enrolled. Best practices include:

- full year enrollment

- presumptive eligibility

- administrative renewal

- state flexibility in asset determinations

- elimination of in person interviews

- joint SCHIP/Medicaid application

- express lane eligibility

    “SCHIP provides access to health care for working families in my community and all over America through a partnership between federal, state and local communities,” said Castor. “Federal SCHIP provides 71 cents for every 29 cents the state provides. That’s the best matching rate in children’s health care.”

    “This bill makes it easier for parents and kids to get to the doctor’s office by providing express lanes,” Castor continued. “It also encourages states to get onboard, because states that streamline the enrollment process will be rewarded. This will translate into easier access and expanded health care coverage for our deserving kids in Florida. I am proud to stand up for them today. My hard-working families in District 11 deserve no less.”