Texas: Health cuts hurt children as well as families, many say

[Ilsa]

Health cuts hurt children as well as families, many say

http://www.thevictoriaadvocate.com/front/story/1759341p-2070522c.html

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CHIP enrollment has already dropped in Texas by 107,953 children since the first round of funding cuts took effect in September of last year. According to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, CHIP enrollment has dropped from 507,259 to 399,306.

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According to U.S. Census data, Texas already had the highest rate of uninsured children in the country before the September cuts, with 22.6 percent of children lacking coverage. Ninety percent of uninsured Texas children have at least one parent that works fulltime.

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Carole Keeton Strayhorn, Texas comptroller, said, "In Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program, as in education, this state is abdicating its responsibilities, and ignoring state challenges is creating local crises. Cuts in these programs mean statewide Texas is leaving an estimated $1.6 billion on the table in federal funds for Medicaid and children's health insurance. That's unconscionable."

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Vison, dental, and hospice has been cut from our Texas CHIPs program and copays have premiums have increased. They are planning a second round of cuts for May 2004.

We need new leadership in Texas.

[zbdent]

1. Next up - hitting yourself in the head with a hammer causes pain

wow, could this have been foreseen?