skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, March 29, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Report: Children's Health Care Bill May Cover 300-thousand Uninsured Floridians

play audio
Play

Friday, January 16, 2009   

In what’s being called the largest expansion of children’s health care coverage in a dozen years, the U.S. House voted to extend the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), providing insurance to 11 million children, including more than 4 million currently uninsured. With the Senate considering the bill possibly today, Families USA has released its report on the impact the legislation would have on America’s families.

According to the report, nearly 800,000 Florida children are currently uninsured, ranking the state third behind Texas and California. The bill would add nearly 300,000 children to the state health insurance program, a 36-percent increase, according to Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA.

"Expansion of children’s health coverage is a major victory for America’s families. The legislation will help to ensure that children get the health care they need when they need it."

The vote shows Congress is now ready to provide affordable health care for America’s children, adds Pollack, at this critical time when families are in need. He adds, the passage also builds confidence that the Obama administration is serious about health care solutions.

"The increase in coverage is rather substantial, and it truly does result in a down payment toward broader health care reform."

Pollack explains that, like Medicaid, these funds require the states to provide some up-front money, but this bill also increases the federal percentage the states receive per patient to as much as 65 percent.

"I think there is a strong incentive that, even during tough fiscal times, the state should want to put up the matching dollars because of the large influx of federal dollars it will receive."

Pollack hopes this increased incentive will encourage states to reach out to more families, because no state is currently covering all of the children who are eligible.

President Bush had vetoed two earlier attempts to expand the program, and it was set to expire in March.



get more stories like this via email

more stories
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week about the popular abortion pill Mifepristone and will weigh in on whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was correct in how it can be dosed and prescribed. (Ascannio/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Missouri residents are worried about future access to birth control. The latest survey from The Right Time, an initiative based in Missouri…


Social Issues

play sound

Wisconsin children from low-income families are now on track to get nutritious foods over the summer. Federal officials have approved the Badger …

Social Issues

play sound

Almost 2,900 people are unsheltered on any given night in the Beehive State. Gov. Spencer Cox is celebrating signing nine bills he says are geared …


The U.S. teaching workforce remains primarily white while the percentage of Black teachers has declined. However, the percentage of Asian and Latinx teachers is rising.(WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobestock)

Social Issues

play sound

Education advocates are calling on lawmakers to increase funding for programs to combat the teacher shortage. Around 37% of schools nationwide …

Environment

play sound

New York's Legislature is considering a bill to get clean-energy projects connected to the grid faster. It's called the RAPID Act, for "Renewable …

Many factors affect a customer's bill amount, including energy usage, weather, and the number of days in a billing period, according to Arizona Public Service. (Jason Yoder/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …

Social Issues

play sound

Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…

Social Issues

play sound

A mix of policy updates and staffing boosts has helped to put wage theft enforcement on the radar in Minnesota, and officials leading the efforts are …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021