Sen. Carney introduces bill to provide continuous health care coverage for children under six years of age
Bill ensures access to health care through Medicaid or CHIP for kids from age 0 to 6
AUGUSTA — On Tuesday, March 25, Sen. Anne Carney, D-Cape Elizabeth, introduced a bill to provide continuous health insurance coverage to children from birth until they turn six. LD 896, “An Act To Provide Young Children Stable Access to Health Care,” was the subject of a public hearing before the Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services.
“Maine children deserve to be healthy, and we as a state have a significant interest in our kids getting the health care they need,” said Sen. Carney. “Maine should provide continuous Medicaid coverage for eligible children during their first five years to ensure access to this care. Continuous health insurance prevents gaps in coverage, increases access to care, reduces expensive emergency room visits and helps parents focus on getting their young children to the doctor without worrying about gaps in coverage.”
LD 896 will require that any child who is eligible for and enrolls in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) maintain their eligibility continuously until they turn six. There are exceptions to coverage for typical situations in which a family no longer needs coverage, such as if a family moves to another state, if the parents request termination of the child’s coverage or if eligibility was granted in error. As detailed by the bill, the Department of Health and Human Services will write routine technical rules to implement this change and will petition the federal government for the necessary waiver to do so.
In his testimony in support of the bill, Dr. Syd Sewall, on behalf of the Maine Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (Maine AAP), Maine Medical Association (MMA) and Maine Osteopathic Association (MOA), said, “A child’s eligibility for either public or private coverage can sometimes be a roller coaster — as the family structure changes, guardians get a new job then lose it, family crises interfere with renewals, et. Al. (sic). … Even temporary gaps in coverage can be financially devastating, given the steep costs for medications needed to manage chronic disease, or lead to stopping needed medication. … Remember that improving the health care of children is not wasteful spending — it’s an investment with large eventual returns…”
LD 896 faces further action in the Health and Human Services Committee.
Sen. Carney represents Maine Senate District 29, which includes South Portland, Cape Elizabeth and part of Scarborough.
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