Health care reform: Put children as the First

 
The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) brought priorities to health insurance for children through federal reauthorization, and our Governor is likely to sign a bill in which funding for the Healthy Families program is restored. However, there remain millions of children living uninsured. Therefore, it is neccessary that the members of Congress and the President put their responsibility to finish the job of providing coverage for all our kids as first priority.
 
In negotiating the components of the final health reform package, members of Congress need to address the following principles:
1. Universal Children’s Coverage Currently, six million children are eligible but not enrolled in public coverage programs nationally.  Eliminating red tape and bureaucracy by simplifying the enrollment process is the most cost-effective, quickest, smartest and most cost-effective initial step toward ensuring that the lowest-income kids are insured.  Any health care reform plan must leave parents a hassle-free way to secure coverage for their children through a