During a recent visit to St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, Gov. Tom Corbett highlighted the Healthy Pennsylvania Initiative and celebrated the elimination of the Children’s Health Insurance Program’s six-month waiting period.

Corbett’s Healthy Pennsylvania plan focuses on improving access, ensuring quality and providing affordability through initiatives such as promoting primary care and health information technology, convening a summit and reforming Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program.

“Last week, I signed House Bill 108, which reauthorized Pennsylvania’s Children’s Health Insurance Program and implemented my proposal to eliminate the program’s six-month waiting period, allowing for timelier access to benefits for new CHIP participants,” Corbett said.

“As I toured this children’s hospital today, I was reminded how important it is to continue our enrollment and outreach efforts for the CHIP program and our work to make sure all Pennsylvania children are insured.”

CHIP is Pennsylvania’s program to provide health insurance to uninsured children and teens who are not eligible for or enrolled in Medical Assistance. The program provides comprehensive coverage for routine doctor visits, dental, eye care, prescriptions, immunizations, emergency care, hospitalizations, substance abuse treatment and more.

Corbett’s 2013-14 budget includes $8.5 million for enrollment and outreach efforts for CHIP, with a goal of insuring an additional 9,000 children in the program.

Colleen McCauley, health policy director, Общественные граждане для детей и молодежи said the organization applauds the governor for his decision to eliminate the six-month waiting period. PCCY helps families apply for and receive free or low-cost health insurance for their children.

“We are really pleased that the governor has taken this step to eliminate the waiting period for children to get health insurance. The Affordable Care Act is about connecting people to coverage and removing this waiting period gets kids connected quicker,” McCauley said.

While PCCY appreciates Corbett’s work around CHIP, McCauley said the governor must address why thousands of children are being dropped from Pennsylvania’s Medical Assistance — Medicaid — rolls. McCauley said since August 2011 through September 2013, about 93,000 children are no longer enrolled in Medicaid.

“Where are these kids going?” McCauley questioned.

PCCY has been in discussions with the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare to determine why so many children are losing their Medicaid coverage.

The state offers CHIP and defines its benefit plans and private insurance carriers coordinate those benefits and the care they provide with provider networks.

Nine insurance company contractors across the state provide generous benefit packages and coverage through CHIP, giving families more than one choice in every county.

More than 188,000 children are currently enrolled in CHIP. During the program’s history more than one million children have been provided access to quality coverage and care.

Corbett also highlighted the need for increased access to quality affordable health care while touring St. Christopher’s emergency department.

“We must find ways to reduce health care costs,” said Corbett.

“My plan does that through increasing access to primary and ensuring that all Pennsylvanians have access to the health care providers and specialists they need to get quality, affordable health care.”

The Philadelphia Tribune – October 29, 2013 – Читать статью онлайн