| CHIPRA and the rescission of the CMS August 17 Directiveare already making a difference in the lives of children and families in Washington.Meet Sarah McIntyre, an 8-year-old girl living in Yakima, Washington who loves school, music and dance. On the surface, she’s just another happy-go-lucky 2nd grader. Look a little deeper and you’ll find an amazing child battling difficult health problems with a determined mother who has overcome steep hurdles to get her daughter the health care coverage she needed.Sarah was born with a hole in her heart and cysts on her lungs. Her life depended on consistent, quality healthcare. She got that, thanks to state health coverage—until last year, when her parents received small raises that boosted their income just over the income cap for the state’s Apple Health for Kids program (Medicaid and CHIP). |  Photo: Tegra Stone Neuss |
| Sarah’s mother, Vicky, didn’t think it was fair that a working family couldn’t find affordable health insurance and didn’t qualify for public coverage. She was struggling to meet the $800 monthly prescription drug bill and other health care costs. Vicky knew the family couldn’t keep their heads above water much longer so the normally reticent woman spoke up. She e-mailed the Governor, called her State Representative, and got involved with efforts spear-headed by the Children’s Alliance of Washington to expand Apple Health for Kids.Due in part to her work, the state enacted legislation to expand eligibility to 300% of the federal poverty level (FPL). The McIntyres and other families were told they would get coverage for their kids on January 1, 2009. However, the restrictions placed through the August 17th Directive and the lack of permanent funding for the CHIP program temporarily blocked the expanded eligibility from going into effect. Then the state’s budget problems began to threaten implementation.Fortunately for Sarah, on February 4th President Obama signed into law the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) with a significant increase in federal funds headed to Washington State to support children’s health care coverage. Coverage is now available to all Washington children in families earning up to 300% of the FPL.
We all know that health care coverage for children is important, but Vicky McIntyre shows us how these federal and state public policy decisions impact children and their families. Here’s what Vicky had to say: CCFHow are you and your daughter Sarah doing now that she has been enrolled in Apple Health for Kids?
CCFDid you try to find health insurance coverage from other sources?
CCFHow did Sarah’s health care expenses impact your family?
CCFDid Apple Health for Kids make a big difference to your family?
CCFDo you think other states should follow Washington’s example?
CCFHave you ever been involved in public policy before?
Thanks to the Children’s Alliance for connecting us to the McIntyre family. |
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Read a detailed memo about what CHIP reauthorization means in Washington.
