Breast feeding is the best thing mothers can do for their babies at the beginning of life. However, many mothers cannot breast feed for long as they must return to work to support their families. Let’s provide all mothers with breast feeding education, lactation support and equipment so that our kids will be healthy. (more…)
affordable care act
Child Immigration Crisis: Access to Health Care
Recently there has been a surge in the number of immigrant children crossing illegally into the United States through the southern border. This crisis provides us with the opportunity to take a closer look at immigration reform policy and how current legislation is creating more gaps in access to health care for immigrants. (more…)
Increasing Enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP
Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are the two largest public health insurance programs for working and low-income children families in the United States. With the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), both of these programs have seen an increase in enrollment across the country during the past year even in states, such as Texas, that have decided not to expand Medicaid eligibility to poor adults. As of May 2014, Texas had 80,435 new enrollees in Medicaid– a 1.8% increase over pre-ACA figures. However, roughly 874,000 Texans eligible for Medicaid and CHIP have still not enrolled, including over 700,000 children. (more…)
A World Without CHIP
In her post on Feb 10, Dr Shae Anderson reminded us that federal funding for CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) will soon expire in September 2015. In order to voice its continued support of CHIP and to call for providers to advocate to their legislators, the AAP recently released a revised policy statement on the program in March. (more…)
More Children with Insurance and No Medical Care
On March 31, 2014, Dr. Katie Collins commented on insurance company restrictions as to where patients can receive covered care. The post highlighted that having insurance does not guarantee that a family can see their preferred medical providers. As we continue to educate families on network restrictions, we must also address another population that has insurance but restricted access to healthcare: the child enrolled in Medicaid. (more…)
My Patient Now Has Insurance, So Why Can’t They Get Care?
The passage of the Affordable Care Act has greatly improved access to health insurance by giving Americans an alternative who lack access to traditional employer-based health coverage. The ACA Marketplace gives individuals and families the opportunity to purchase affordable health insurance. However, having insurance does not guarantee the family can see their preferred medical providers. (more…)
The AAP Praises CHIP & Asks for Continued Support
The American Academy of Pediatrics is voicing its continued support of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and hoping to garner future support in the process. CHIP was signed into law in 1997 as part of the Balanced Budget Act, it was reauthorized in 2009 under the CHIP Reauthorization Act, and extended through 2019 with funding through 2015 in 2010 under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. (more…)
Assistance for Health Insurance Enrollment
The Affordable Care Act’s (ACA’s) requirement that all individuals have health insurance coverage by the end of March 2014 prompts the current widespread search for health insurance coverage. Recent changes in Medicaid eligibility requirements, state-to-state variation in Medicaid coverage, and new health insurance marketplaces create a daunting environment as parents embark on their search to find the appropriate health insurance for themselves and their children. In anticipation of this challenge, the ACA and some states are funding a variety of consumer assistance programs to help families navigate the plethora of health insurance changes. (more…)
Why So Many Insurance Cancellations?
There’s been a lot in the news about the Affordable Care Act and healthcare.gov rollout, but why so many people are receiving insurance cancellation letters may not be entirely clear. Watch this 2 minute video by Sarah Cliff from the Washington Post about what it all means.
by Dolly Lucio Sevier, MD
Pediatric Advocacy 