AAP News Vol. 13 No. 9 September 1997, p. 1
© 1997 American Academy of Pediatrics
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Pediatricians urged to 'grab a seat at the table,' advise states on $24 billion for child health care

Marjorie Tharp and Gem Benoza

Beginning Oct. 1, states will have the option of establishing a health care program for uninsured children and adolescents through age 18 using new federal funding in conjunction with state dollars under the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

President Clinton and Congress reached a balanced budget agreement in late July that offers $24 billion in federal funds over five years specifically for children's health care. A total of $8 billion dollars comes from a new 15-cent cigarette tax phased in over five years.

The Academy played a leading role in assuring that children would be first on the now incremental road to health care reform. Pediatricians across the country were instrumental in building the critical bipartisan support in Congress for health care coverage for the nation's 10 million uninsured children as a national priority. A downpayment is forthcoming on that objective.

Estimates vary about how many of the nation's 10 millon uninsured children will benefit from the new agreement, ranging from two million to five million.