“We applaud the House's strong, bipartisan vote to reauthorize and strengthen this vital program.  Study after study has shown that health insurance is essential for children to access preventive health services and life saving specialty care when they need it.   The bill approved today by the House would enable states to maintain coverage for more than 6 million infants and children who are currently enrolled in the program and would allow states to expand coverage to an additional 3.8 million uninsured children.

“Of particular importance to the March of Dimes is a provision of the bill that will permit states to cover uninsured pregnant women who meet SCHIP's income guidelines. Having access to the full spectrum of clinically recommended maternity services – prenatal to post-partum care – will improve birth outcomes by reducing risk for both the mother and her baby. The Foundation is also pleased that the bill contains a series of provisions designed to improve the quality of pediatric care and bring greater accountability to this important program.  In addition, the March of Dimes notes that the bill gives states greater flexibility to combine private insurance with SCHIP so that children, particularly those with significant medical problems,  have access to a comprehensives set of benefits that meet their healthcare needs.

“This is an important step toward ensuring that this essential program will continue and provide a brighter future for children and families across the nation.”

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defect, premature birth, and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy and in 2003 launched a multi-year campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth. For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at marchofdimes.com or its Spanish Web site at nacersano.org.

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