NH Governor Lynch Deeply Disappointed in Bush Veto of State Children’s Health Insurance Program

October 3, 2007 -- CONCORD - New Hampshire Governor Lynch today expressed disappointment regarding President Bush’s veto of legislation reauthorizing the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.

“This veto hurts children and working families. I urge members of Congress to overturn the President’s veto and ensure that families have access to affordable, quality health care for their children,” Gov. Lynch said.

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Despite the President’s veto, continuing resolution will allow New Hampshire’s Children’s Health Insurance Program continue providing coverage to children currently enrolled through mid-November.

Earlier this week, Gov. Lynch announced New Hampshire joined as an amicus party to a legal challenge being filed by New York regarding the Bush Administration’s sudden change in eligibility requirements for the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Other states participating in the legal challenge are Arizona, California, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey and Washington.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) informed the states of the sudden changes in a letter dated Aug. 17. The changes include new requirements making it more difficult for states to provide health insurance coverage to children whose families earn above 250 percent of the poverty level. The changes include requiring states to prove that they are covering 95 percent of children living below the 250 percent threshold before offering coverage to families above that level. Under the new rules, states are also required to wait a year or more before allowing children to receive coverage, and to require premiums and co-payments similar to private coverage.

The current legislation - which President Bush vetoed today - would have reversed these onerous new rules.

“We should be doing all we can to ensure our children have access to quality, affordable health care. By vetoing this legislation, the President is throwing up roadblocks and hurting children and hard-working families,” Gov. Lynch said.

Gov. Lynch has made it a priority to enroll 10,000 additional children in the Healthy Kids program, which administers SCHIP in New Hampshire, over the next three years. The changes put forth by federal regulators puts that goal in jeopardy.

In August, Gov. Lynch sent a letter to President Bush, urging the president him to reconsider the changes to SCHIP.

Source: New Hampshire Governor