APHA Lauds Approval of SCHIP Expansion to Protect Children’s Health

Washington, D.C., February 4, 2009 — The American Public Health Association today lauds Congress for reauthorizing the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and President Obama who will sign the bill into law this afternoon.

 

“Thanks to this measure, more than 4 million additional kids from low-income families will now have access to health care,” said Georges C. Benjamin, MD, FACP, FACEP (E), executive director of the American Public Health Association, who will join the president at the bill signing.

 

“Covering our children by expanding SCHIP is a down payment toward ensuring quality, affordable access to health care for all and is a key milestone on the road to health reform. We look forward to working with the administration and Congress to pass comprehensive health system reform legislation.”

 

Founded in 1872, the APHA is the oldest, largest and most diverse organization of public health professionals in the world. The association aims to protect all Americans and their communities from preventable, serious health threats and strives to assure community-based health promotion and disease prevention activities and preventive health services are universally accessible in the United States. APHA represents a broad array of health providers, educators, environmentalists, policy-makers and health officials at all levels working both within and outside governmental organizations and educational institutions. More information is available at www.apha.org.