PEDIATRICIANS URGE CONGRESS TO PROTECT MEDICAID AND SCHIP
VITAL CHILD HEALTH CARE SAFETY NET

The American Academy of Pediatrics, an organization of 57,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists, is deeply committed to protecting the 22 million children who receive health care through the Medicaid program and the more than 5 million children covered by the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

Medicaid provides health insurance for one in every four American children, making it the largest children's health program in the country. Through the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) program, the Medicaid program guarantees low-income children access to critical health care services, including preventive care. The Medicaid program also provides health care coverage to one-third of American children with special health care needs. Without Medicaid, many of these children and their families would have nowhere to turn.

In recent years states have made great strides in expanding coverage to children and families through the SCHIP program. In 2002, about 5.3 million children who otherwise would not have health coverage were enrolled in the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) at some point during fiscal year 2002, a 15 percent increase in enrollment from 2001.

The American Academy of Pediatrics is deeply concerned and strongly opposed to the Administration's proposal that would cap the Medicaid program and effectively eliminate the SCHIP program. The Academy urges Congress and the Governors to reject any proposed caps on federal Medicaid spending. Caps on federal support threaten Medicaid's guarantees for children's health coverage. Medicaid's current mandates for children's eligibility and comprehensive coverage should be maintained.

As states are facing the worst fiscal conditions they have experienced since World War II, the federal government should be stepping up, not capping, support to states for these critical programs for working families. The Academy supports legislative efforts to provide immediate fiscal relief to the states for their Medicaid program and those that address SCHIP funding problems.

To provide the states with necessary funds to maintain their Medicaid programs, the Academy urges prompt passage of legislation that would provide real fiscal relief to enable states to weather their budget shortfalls without putting the Medicaid safety net in jeopardy. To ensure the continued success of the SCHIP program and to prevent further state enrollment freezes and cuts, the Academy supports the passage of legislation to prevent the $2.7 billion in unspent SCHIP funds from reverting back to the federal treasury, as well as legislation to fix the SCHIP funding "dip".

As pediatricians, we urge Congress to protect the Medicaid and SCHIP programs, which are so critical for children.