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Public Employee Press
Heat activists campaign
for childrens health care The unions Health
Education Activist Team organized members at HHC facilities throughout the city
this summer for the intensifying battle to protect and increase funding for childrens
health care. At stake is the State Childrens Health Insurance Program,
known as S-CHIP. The program is a partnership between the federal government and
the states and is designed to provide health insurance coverage for low-income
children under 19 who are not eligible for Medicaid. With bipartisan support,
Gov. Eliot Spitzer has proposed legislation to expand the program to include more
children who come from families with incomes of up to 400 percent of the poverty
level. But in Washington, President Bush is aiming to enact federal rules
that would cut off funds to any state program that expands eligibility to families
with incomes over 200 percent of the poverty line. The federal poverty level for
a family of three is currently $17,170. No child should lose health
coverage because of a shortage of federal funds, said DC 37 Executive Director
Lillian Roberts. Congress must ensure that there is enough money to at least
cover the children who are already eligible for Medicaid or S-CHIP.
HEAT activists launched a telephone campaign to urge New Yorks U.S.
senators, Hillary Clinton and Charles Schumer, to support the expansion of S-CHIP.
The state will need $35 billion dollars in new funds over the next five years
to expand the program and make sure that those currently enrolled maintain their
eligibility. Join the HEAT During
the fall, HEAT activists will be going out to the HHC community-based clinics
to conduct training sessions for members and to get the word out about the importance
of supporting universal health coverage. To join the HEAT activist team,
callDC 37s Moira Dolan at 212-815-1470. The HEAT team is asking
all members to call Sens. Clinton and Schumer and members of Congress at 800-828-0498
and demand that they support adequate funding for childrens health needs. | |