Statement from Georges C. Benjamin, MD, FACP, FACEP (E)
Executive Director, American Public Health Association
Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2007 — “The American Public Health Association urges all members of the U.S. House of Representatives today to support legislation to reauthorize the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
“Congressional negotiators have addressed the major points of opposition. They’ve come up with a plan that even the program’s worst detractors should not be able to find fault with.
“While it doesn’t achieve universal health care coverage for kids, it provides 10 million low-income children from working class families with access to health insurance coverage. The bill would also provide improved benefits to enrolled children, including quality dental coverage, parity in mental health coverage and medically necessary benefits for low-income children.
“We urge the House to approve the measure today and to send the president a bill with strong bipartisan support that protects the health of our kids and heeds the overwhelming desire of the American people to make sure kids are covered.”