AMA to Houston Chronicle: More children need coverage

Houston Chronicle
Letter to the Editor

To the Editor:

Many American children face unnecessary hardship as a result of cracks in the U.S. health care system [see Clarence Page's May 20 column, "Don't let Congress forget about kids' health care"].

Despite the fact that the United States is a world leader in medical advances, these treatments are out of reach for millions of the nation's children and adults simply because they lack health insurance.

This year Congress will reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), a federal/state program that currently provides health care to more than 6 million children.

Sadly, more than 2 million uninsured children are eligible for the program but are not enrolled. It is important that we fix the enrollment process to ensure that lower-income children who qualify can get the health care they need.

Congress must also provide the funds needed to support this pending increase in enrollment.

CHIP reauthorization is a priority for the American Medical Association this year, and an integral component of our proposal to cover the uninsured.

American children are our country's future, and without proper health care, they are not going to be given a fair chance to succeed.

We all need to work toward more feasible solutions in order to get more kids covered.

Sincerely,

William G. Plested, MD
President, American Medical Association