WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA) called on Governor-Elect Schwarzenegger today to support efforts to expand access to children’s health insurance in California.
In the letter, Rep. Schiff wrote:
Dear Governor-Elect Schwarzenegger:
Congratulations on your recent election as governor of California. I look forward to working together to improve the quality of life for all Californians.
Specifically, I look forward to working together to expand California’s Healthy Families Program. Each year over 650,000 children of low-income working families receive affordable health insurance through California's Healthy Families Program, one of the most successful SCHIP programs in the nation. And yet, thousands of children whose families fall just above the maximum Healthy Families income guidelines, 250% of the federal poverty level, are uninsured. Currently the State of California provides state funds to draw down the federal matching dollars available through the federal SCHIP program. Because of the state’s budget deficit, California is unable to pull down the maximum federal allowance of SCHIP matching dollars, meaning crucial federal funding for children’s health insurance remains unused.
To stem the tide of this problem, the California Legislature introduced Assembly Bill 495, legislation authorizing California counties to work with the State to use local funds to draw down federal SCHIP funds. To fully implement AB 495, the Bush Administration’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) must approve a State Plan Amendment allowing the use of non-state funds to draw down federal SCHIP funds. California’s State Plan Amendment was submitted on March 31, 2003 and is currently awaiting approval.
In May 2003, members of the California Congressional Delegation sent a letter to CMS urging approval of California's State Plan Amendment. If approved, this would allow California's counties to create healthcare programs for children who do not currently qualify for either MediCal or the Healthy Families programs.
Please join us in urging CMS to quickly approve California’s State Plan Amendment and expand the Healthy Families program to provide health insurance to thousands more children in California who currently live without guaranteed health care coverage.
I appreciate your cooperation on this and future endeavors pertaining to our mutual constituencies. I wish you the best of luck in meeting the unique and often difficult challenges of governing California.
Sincerely,
ADAM B. SCHIFF
Member of Congress