CONGRESS AND PRESIDENT
WORK TOGETHER TO IMPROVE HEALTH CARE FOR AMERICA’S CHILDREN
By U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin
After a nearly two-year fight to gain passage
of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), I am
pleased that the legislation is now law thanks to strong bipartisan
congressional support and forceful backing from President Obama.
This legislation, which was vetoed twice by
President Bush, will assure continued funding for the approximately
6.7 million American children already enrolled in the program.
It also will expand health care services to approximately 4
million additional children from low-income families who do
not qualify for Medicaid and who would otherwise be uninsured.
In Maryland, this bill will fully fund the 110,000
children currently enrolled in the Maryland Children’s
Health Program (MCHP). It also will provide funding to expand
health coverage to approximately 42,800 Maryland children who
are currently uninsured.
Too many Americans have no insurance, but this
bill takes a step in the right direction by ensuring that millions
of uninsured children will have access to the health care services
they need.
I am extremely proud that the CHIP reauthorization
bill includes my proposals to provide a guaranteed dental benefit,
a dental education program for parents of newborns and a new
Department of Health and Human Services website and toll-free
number with information about dental coverage and a list of
providers.
Dental care is an essential part of appropriate
medical care. As our former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop
once said, “There is no health without oral health.”
In 2007, we learned how true that was with the
tragic death of 12-year-old Deamonte Driver from Prince George’s
County who died from a brain infection caused by a tooth abscess.
Treating a cavity takes very little time or effort, but the
death of a child from tooth decay is a national tragedy that
we must make sure never happens again.
I am pleased that the reauthorization of the
Children’s Health Insurance Program will ensure we have
no more tragedies like Deamonte Driver.
Susan Sullam
Office of U.S. Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin
Communications Director
410-962-4436 (Baltimore)
202-224-4524 (D.C.)
410-960-2440 (Cell)
susan_sullam@cardin.senate.gov
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