Press Advisory: The countdown is on - at risk is our kids - University Health System, Hospital, San Antonio, Texas

News & Media Information

Media Advisory : September 20, 2007

Contact:	Download printer-friendly PDF
Toni-Marie Van Buren (210) 352-7034 or cell 834-1321 Miryam Bujanda, (210) 949-1834 or cell 378-2389

The countdown is on - at risk is our kids

Ninety-eight thousand kids in Bexar County have no idea how a decision to be made in the next 10 days in Washington D.C. could dramatically impact their health - and their lives. That's why a local coalition - Voices for Children - is speaking up on their behalf.

WHAT:	State and local leaders and children's advocates urge Congress and the White House to support the reauthorization and expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) before the program expires on September 30, 2007.
WHEN:	Friday, September 21, 2007 at 11:00 a.m.
WHERE:	SKYROOM at the International Conference Centers, University of the Incarnate Word (the Skyroom is located above the parking garage)
WHO:	Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff George B. Hernández, President/CEO University Health System Pilar Oates, Executive Director of Methodist Healthcare Ministries Representatives from the Bexar County Delegation Parent of child receiving CHIP Benefits

Questions & Answers followed immediately after.

Background on the Issue in Texas:

CHIP was enacted with strong bipartisan support during the 1997 Congress. The 10-year-old program will expire on September 30 and more than 6 million low-income children are at risk of losing their benefits.
Today in Texas 327,379 children are enrolled in the SCHIP program. The proposed reauthorization would allow for an additional 134,000 children to participate in the program.
In Texas, there are 1.4 Million uninsured children, and approximately two-thirds of them are currently eligible for CHIP or Medicaid. In Bexar County 98,000 children are uninsured. Bexar County enrollment makes up 7% of the CHIP enrollment - so an additional 7,000 children in Bexar County could be enrolled in SCHIP.
State funds that are spent on Medicaid and SCHIP are matched by the federal government. The federal government gives Texas $2.64 for each dollar the state spends on CHIP.

Background of Voices for Children's 9th annual Congress:

At the first Children's Congress in 1998 local advocates urged Texas leadership to pass the first CHIP bill with three principles. (1) Keep the enrollment process simple for families; (2) Provide a one year eligibility period; (3) The success of CHIP is vital to Texas and today children's advocates are continuing to make a difference in being a voice for Texas children.

Sponsored By: Voices for Children of San Antonio and United Way of San Antonio & Bexar County, Methodist Healthcare Ministries, and University Health System

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