Covering the Kids Act of 2005
May 17, 2005
The Honorable Bill Frist
416 Senate Russell Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Via Fax: 202-228-1264
Dear Senator Frist:
On behalf of the American College of Physicians (ACP), I want to thank you for introducing the "Covering Kids Act of 2005." ACP, which represents 116,000 doctors of internal medicine and medical students, is the nation's largest medical specialty organization and the second largest medical association. ACP commends you for addressing efficiency and quality in the health care system, which are essential to reigning in health care costs and reversing the trend of ever-increasing numbers of under- and uninsured.
As a supporter of strengthening the safety net to enable more Americans to obtain health insurance coverage, ACP is pleased that the "Covering Kids Act of 2005" would provide $100 million to community-based organizations to conduct innovative outreach and enrollment efforts to reach pregnant women and the estimated five million children eligible, but unenrolled in Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP). ACP's step-by-step proposal to expand health care coverage to all Americans preserves the significant role of Medicaid, as well. ACP also supports your proposal to enhance state flexibility over coverage expansions and give states the option of using a federal minimum standard for eligibility that would extend the program's benefits to those who now lack health insurance, with the additional coverage being borne by the federal government
ACP's support for a strengthened safety net is also outlined in its position paper, "Reforming Medicaid During a Time of Budget Deficits," which notes that the federal government should recognize the benefit of gradually eliminating the use of categorical eligibility in the Medicaid program so that health coverage eventually could be extended to all low-income populations. ACP also recommends that states be given greater flexibility to streamline their Medicaid and S-CHIP enrollment processes and to assure effective delivery of services to those in need. ACP is pleased that the "Covering Kids Act of 2005" has similar goals to fast-track enrollment under Medicaid and S-CHIP.
ACP applauds this legislation for requiring that the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), in making grants, give priority to areas with high numbers of eligible but uninsured children, including those who live in rural areas and those areas with large numbers of health disparity populations. We also agree that it is important for the Secretary to report annually to Congress on the impact of these efforts on expanding access to uninsured children.
The "Covering Kids Act of 2005" offers common sense solutions to the access barriers often met by our most vulnerable patients. Continued expansions of safety-net programs to all of those who fall below the federal poverty level will assure that our neediest populations can lead healthy, functional lives. ACP looks forward to working with you in the future.
Sincerely,
C. Anderson Hedberg, MD, FACP
President
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