Children's Health Care - Updated
I posted about this sometime this month and now I can't find it. (Dastardly Duo again - I'm sure WA will recover it at some point *WA: Found it; link at end of your post). Anyhow, Bush has threatened to veto the State Children's Health Insurance (SCHIP) Bill currently before Congress.
His "reasoning"?
Here's what the Houston Chronicle has to say. The comments are interesting as well.
(You'll have to click on the link to read it. I tried to copy and paste but had problems with the code).
Here's one brief quote. I heard all of what Bush had to say. None of it made any sense.
Coverage is based on National Poverty Guidelines.
In some states, the limit is 150% of the National Poverty level, in others 200% (California which is being attacked by the Feds for their high limit). Kids at the 200% level are being dropped from the SCHIP rolls. Funding is not keeping pace with the number of eligible families, even at the 150% level. The bill addresses that.
2007 HHS Poverty Guidelines
The link above explains how they work and provides a complete chart. I copied the 2007 figures for families of 4 and 5.
4 $ 20,650
5 $ 24,130
SOURCE: Federal Register, Vol. 72, No. 15, January 24, 2007, pp. 3147–3148
Looking at the numbers for a family of 5 (mine), we're a little under 150% of the poverty level. I don't think we could squeeze out any extra money for medical care. We'd be one of those families dependent on the emergency room. We'd have no dental care, no eye exams.
Luckily, we don't have to worry about it. The girls are technically Wards of the Court and all their medical expense is covered (so far).
The Bill seems to have a good chance of passing but we need to track it. The veto threat is there.
Update from Common Sense today.
Add: WA: re: Granny's previous post that disappeared.(Just part of 'edit post' page disappeared but not the published posts). Her previous post is: Mom's Rising
COMMENTS:
His "reasoning"?
Here's what the Houston Chronicle has to say. The comments are interesting as well.
(You'll have to click on the link to read it. I tried to copy and paste but had problems with the code).
Here's one brief quote. I heard all of what Bush had to say. None of it made any sense.
"People have access to health care in America," he (Bush) told an audience in Cleveland. "After all, you just go to an emergency room."
Coverage is based on National Poverty Guidelines.
In some states, the limit is 150% of the National Poverty level, in others 200% (California which is being attacked by the Feds for their high limit). Kids at the 200% level are being dropped from the SCHIP rolls. Funding is not keeping pace with the number of eligible families, even at the 150% level. The bill addresses that.
2007 HHS Poverty Guidelines
The link above explains how they work and provides a complete chart. I copied the 2007 figures for families of 4 and 5.
4 $ 20,650
5 $ 24,130
SOURCE: Federal Register, Vol. 72, No. 15, January 24, 2007, pp. 3147–3148
Looking at the numbers for a family of 5 (mine), we're a little under 150% of the poverty level. I don't think we could squeeze out any extra money for medical care. We'd be one of those families dependent on the emergency room. We'd have no dental care, no eye exams.
Luckily, we don't have to worry about it. The girls are technically Wards of the Court and all their medical expense is covered (so far).
The Bill seems to have a good chance of passing but we need to track it. The veto threat is there.
Update from Common Sense today.
Add: WA: re: Granny's previous post that disappeared.(Just part of 'edit post' page disappeared but not the published posts). Her previous post is: Mom's Rising
COMMENTS:
- LET'S TALK said...
-
I think we have a President who just don't care. It's sad to say that, but it's true.
Didn't we, the people pay for his little visit to the hospital last Saturday?
How can anyone vote against a child for anything? They talk about not killing the fetus, yet they are willing to kill a child by this foolishness. - [WA: Yes, scream like wounded panthers about "murdering" a fertilized egg, even in the lab, but kill or damage the developement of existing children - AND send existing people to be slaughtered in wars. Also, the belief that God blesses the righteous and does not bless the wicked; ergo, the rich are blessed by God but the poor are not - therefore poverty is their own fault for being wicked. Doesn't jibe with my reading of Jesus' teachings!]
- Nvisiblewmn said...
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It's amazing how much more you CAN despise that man, even after you're sure you've reached the limit.
- [WA:"Go to emergency room.." indicates a medical problem of illness or injury. Children NEED continuous medical oversight and care from birth onward - adequate nutrition, vitamins, immos, well-baby checkups, etc. to assure good brain and physical developement. Poverty kills, in more ways than one. ]
Labels: Health Care- Children's
posted by Granny @ 7/24/2007 11:31:00 AM
Bush once again demonstrates his abysmal ignorance of realities in the nation and of the people he supposedly leads.
"...go to the emergency room.."
Hospitals all across the nation, including the 2 major city/county hospitals here in Houston, are operating deeply into the red with no relief in sight. Something has to give; they cannot continue this way.
Costs must be cut, usually in overhead, which often results in staffing reductions, lower payrolls. Remaining staff often are overworked, exhausted, and disillusioned and sometimes patient care suffers. Lowering payroll costs sometimes means that older, more experienced medical staff earning higher salaries are let go and younger entry level (and less experienced) staff is hired. The massive influx of illegal, non-English speaking patients dictate that bilingual personnel must be hired - usually at a higher salary because of their bilingual skills even if they have poorer medical skills.
The benefits available in the US, including medical care, is NOT "GRATIS" (free) as I have heard experienced individuals wise in the way of milking the system advise newcomers. Ultimately it is the taxpayers, YOU, Mr. and Mrs, Working Americans, who PAY for the "free" service. And also ultimately, patient care suffers because of hospital red-ink woes and patients suffer because benefits are slashed and slashed and slashed. There isn't enough money allocated to go around.
People clog the ERs with ailments that are not emergencies, that should be treated in doctor's offices or clinics. Lacking funds to pay for doctor office visits (or reluctant to spend funds in that manner-SOME DO THAT) go to the ER instead, where law and ethics dictate that patients be cared for and at least be stabilized, which includes medical care and medicines. However, they cannot be compelled to pay; the hospitals bill the patients and the bills are never paid - either because the family does not have the money to pay the debt, or again, does not want to spend their money when they can get the medical care "free".
I am not anti-humanitarian; when I was working, my patients had no race, color, social status, no differences - all were ailing human beings to be cared for. I still feel that way and most especially THE CHILDREN, the helpless innocents, MUST have the care they need, regardless of their parents' status or situations.
America has more than enough citizen poor and working poor that needs care without taking on the poor or so-called poor of all the other countries in the world. A sinking ship can float only so many survivors or they all sink. Granny and I see first hand some of the ills of the government aid to the poor and elderly.
Bush and his advisors are too stupid, ignorant, or don't care to address these problems. Bush's eventual plan is to turn social services over to the churches who would receive the government funds (drastically reduced but assuring hefty administrative salaries)to dispense as they see fit under the faith based initiatives. If Bush, who pays lip service to curbing "immigration" (allowing illegals in this country) but in practise encourages them so that businesses and the elite can exploit their lower wage scale, then he MUST also address the medical problems of these folks as WELL as the medical needs of the citizens.
AND THE CHILDREN OF ALL RACES MUST RECEIVE CARE. They are our tomorrows, our future. Neglect and poor health now results in inadequate brain and physical developement, a less fit adult.They are our most vulnerable and needy. Yes, us old people are vulnerable too but our time is past; the children of this country have the greatest and most important need.
With a president who is so ignorant as to state " go to emergency room" our little ones have very little hope unless the citizens can prod our reps to take strong action -- so that idiot can veto it?
Wednesday, July 25, 2007 3:56:00 AM
I don't think it's just Bush, I think both houses of congress deserve blame, too.
The problem is that every politician on Captitol Hill grew up wealthy. All they know about poverty is what they read in the papers- the papers that are published by wealthy corporations.
I don't think they are heartless, I think the big problem is ignorance. In this case, though, ignorance kills.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007 8:09:00 AM
a style="border: medium none ;" href="https://www.blogger.com/delete-comment.g?blogID=17213045&postID=9134805546083840241" onclick="'window.open(this.href," height="370,width="750" title="Delete Comment">WA, thanks. I discovered the same thing late last night when I went back through the archives. What a relief!!
Now why in heaven's name would they be in the archives but not on the edit page?
Wednesday, July 25, 2007 12:31:00 PM