During one of the most crucial weeks for action on health reform, I am spending the week at the home I grew up in with my Dad and my 4-year-old-son. Between lots of game show watching, work in the yard and doctor’s appointments for my Dad, I have not had tons of time to think about health reform. However, being with my Dad and my son has opened my eyes again to the complexity of reforming our health care system. The different health care needs of just the three generations represented around my parent’s table illustrates why health reform is not an easy endeavor.
Thankfully, my colleagues back at the office are reading and analyzing the recent House package (Senate bill and “side car”) to see what it will mean for children. I am happy to say that the House package has many positive provisions for children. The bill prohibits insurers from denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions; extends the authority and funding of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and provides a $30 million loan forgiveness program for pediatric specialists.
The bill also would increase Medicaid reimbursement to primary care physicians for evaluation and management codes to Medicare levels for two years. Our association, working with children’s hospitals across the country, has supported this provision to establish a federal standard for Medicaid reimbursement for these services. There is more to be done in this area to ensure that children have access to needed specialty services as well, but this is a significant step in the right direction. As we have argued for many months now, coverage does not equal access. This seems to have been heard by the President and Congressional leaders.
N.A.C.H. supports the expansion of coverage for the 30 million uninsured Americans and insurance reforms as outlined in The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The positive provisions outlined above were the direct result of our collective effort to make health reform work for children. I will be watching the historic health reform vote this weekend (if my Dad let’s me change the channel away from the UCONN women’s basketball game) and crossing my fingers that together we can continue making positive improvements for children.
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