Washington, D.C.: Congressman Ernie
Fletcher (R-KY) was successful today in passing an amendment
in the full Budget Committee that addresses a crisis within in
our health system. Fletcher’s amendment would help accelerate
the enrollment of uninsured children in State health programs
and provide Medicaid treatment for uninsured women who have
been diagnosed with breast and cervical cancer through the
Centers of Disease Control spending program.
"Today - I was successful in taking
another important step towards ensuring that we address the
health care crisis of the 44 million uninsured in America,"
said Fletcher. "My amendment, which passed in the full Budget
Committee with bipartisan support, will help ensure that
uninsured children get quality health care and that uninsured
women who have been diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer
receive Medicaid dollars for their treatment. Ultimately, this
bill addresses a greatest need in health care access for
patients - women with cervical and breast cancer and children
who have no insurance or access to essential treatment."
Fletcher’s amendment would achieve the following:
- Making sure all eligible children are enrolled in State
Children’s Health Care Programs (SCHIP): In order to ensure
all eligible children are enrolled in SCHIP programs (KCHIP
in Kentucky), Fletcher’s amendment would accelerate the
enrollment of SCHIP programs by giving states the
flexibility to use the school lunch rolls to identify
children who are eligible for health care coverage.
- Ensuring Medicaid coverage for uninsured women diagnosed
with breast or cervical cancer through the Centers for
Disease Control screening program: Last year Congressman
Fletcher was successful in establishing a Centers for
Disease Control Cancer Prevention Center at the University
of Kentucky. This is why his amendment is so important.
Fletcher’s amendment would ensure that uninsured women
diagnosed with breast and cervical cancer at CDC centers are
made eligible for the Medicaid coverage they need to be
treated for these serious illnesses.
"Ensuring quality health care
coverage for the low-income and uninsured is about making the
system work more efficiently," said Fletcher. "I believe that
my amendment achieves just that - we are finally answering the
bipartisan call of our nation’s Governors to give them the
ability to enroll more children in SCHIP programs. Just as
importantly, we are ensuring treatment for one of the most
threatening diseases of our time among uninsured women."
Editor’s Note: The budget still needs to be passed by the
full House of Representative, United States Senate and signed
into law by the President.