Uninsured Children Get More $ From Lawmakers
None by KCPW
(KCPW News) Lawmaers agreed to boost their investment in the Children's Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, yesterday. Legislative leaders first decided to put two-million ongoing dollars into the program. But there are approximately 70-thousand children in Utah without health insurance, so advocates and Governor Huntsman pushed for two-million more to keep those kids healthy.Lawmakers added that money from settlement funds being paid to the state by tobacco companies. Some legislators say that money is not reliable and shouldn't be used to fund long-term needs. However, advocates note that CHIP has been largely funded by tobacco settlement money since its inception.
Health department officials say the additional money is enough to keep CHIP enrollment open year-round.
Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom, Legislative Coverage, and 2007 Legislative Coverage. Copyright 2008 KCPW
1. Misty Fowler said:
Not enough money to keep CHIP enrollment open, not enough money to provide basic dental services, but enough to give us all a tax break. That makes sense. I think our lawmakers, both at the state and the federal level, need to meet Deamonte Driver's family and listen to their story before they vote on anything healthcare related again. Deamonte Driver is a 12 year old child who just died from a toothache. Lack of an $80 tooth extraction led to a brain infection, $250,000 worth of surgery, and then he died. Right, there's not enough money.
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