HispanicBusiness

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "We look forward to SCHIP legislation being one of the first to become law with the signature of our new President," said Dr. Jane L. Delgado, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, the nation's leading Hispanic health advocacy group. This afternoon, the Senate Finance Committee voted out of committee a bill reauthorizing the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The bill now moves to the full Senate for a vote.

"We applaud Finance Committee Chairman Baucus for leading the effort to deliver a bill to the full Senate that includes coverage for legal immigrant children and pregnant women," declared Dr. Delgado.

Yesterday, leading community-based organization from across the U.S. sent Senate leadership an urgent letter calling for passage of State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) legislation that includes four critical elements:

1. A full-five year reauthorization of the program in order to stabilize state budgets and encourage state expansions under their SCHIP programs;

2. An increase to no less than $1 from the current federal tobacco tax of 39 cents;

3. Coverage for legal immigrant children and pregnant women by incorporating provisions of the Legal Immigrant Children's Health Improvement Act; and,

4. Provisions from bipartisan legislation in the 110th Congress that support limited English proficient outreach for SCHIP enrollment of children, including a 75% federal match to state funds for such outreach.

"Today's action offers the Senate of the 111th Congress the opportunity to finish the unfinished business of the 110th Congress and deliver a children's health insurance bill that reflects our values as a nation," concluded Dr. Delgado. National Alliance for Hispanic Health