Ark. Lawmakers Call for Increased Children’s Insurance Funding

Ark. Gov. Mike Beebe and members of Arkansas’ congressional delegation called for increased funding of a federal health insurance program this week, and said a potential veto by President Bush could hurt the state’s efforts to offer health care to poor children.

Joined by Sens. Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor and Rep. Vic Snyder, all D-Ark., Beebe called on the White House to re-authorize the state Children’s Health Insurance Program before current funding expires Sept. 30. The federal program is the primary funding source for ARKids First, which provides health insurance to more than 88,000 low-income children.

“We’re going to be judged on how we treat our children as a society, and it’s very important that we not abandon those children,” Beebe said. “We do not want to go backwards on this program.”

Arkansas uses “SCHIP” money for three state programs. Other than ARKids First, it also is used for ARHealthNet, which extends health coverage to workers at small businesses that don’t offer insurance; and prenatal care for pregnant immigrant women who are not eligible for Medicaid.

Congress is working to keep funding for SCHIP past its expiration date and to expand coverage. Senate and House bills passed earlier this month.

President Bush has said he wants to limit the program to $30 billion over five years, and has threatened to veto any measure that he regards as too costly.

“We’ve been waiting on the private sector for years to do it, and they’re not going to do it unless the government is there to prod them along and help them provide this coverage for low-income people,” Pryor said.

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Legislation Alaska