Care For PA

In April, Pennsylvania's hospitals and health systems bolstered ongoing efforts to reach out to those in need of health care coverage through a number of educational and community activities designed to help enroll kids in the Children's Health Insurance Program (Pennsylvania's insurance program for children in low-income families) and emphasize the need for policymakers to reauthorize and adequately fund the federal program. The events were part of "Cover the Uninsured Week,�? the largest nonpartisan mobilization in history seeking solutions for the nearly 45 million Americans who are uninsured.

During the week hospitals in Pennsylvania held educational and community activities, including health and enrollment fairs; advertising and other media outreach; distribution of insurance information to schools, day care centers, churches, and businesses; and community forums. There were some 3,300 events across the country promoting the importance of coverage for children and the Children's Health Insurance Program.

Funding for the national program that provides grants to states to create their own insurance for children in low income families is in jeopardy since President Bush has called for a cut in the federal funds. In Pennsylvania alone, the President's proposed plan would cut federal funding for 8,800 children currently enrolled in the subsidized component of the Children's Health Insurance Program as well as prevent the state from expanding the program to more than 10,000 additional children.

"This year, hospitals are using their considerable influence to turn attention to children's health coverage. When our kids go without health insurance, they miss out on the check-ups, vaccinations, and medical care they need to thrive and succeed. Insuring kids is an investment in the future,�? said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D., M.B.A., president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which started the week.

"In addition to providing community outreach, education, and care for the uninsured, Pennsylvania's hospitals asked members of our state's congressional delegation and U.S. Senators Specter and Casey to work diligently to reauthorize federal funding and expand the funding to cover additional children,�? said Carolyn F. Scanlan, president and CEO of The Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (a nonprofit organization that helps to support the work of the hospitals across the state).

Pennsylvania's hospitals were among the 18 partners, 188 supporting organizations, and thousands of people who held some 3,300 community service and education events across the country as part of Cover the Uninsured Week.

Cover the Uninsured Week brings together business owners, union members, educators, students, patients, physicians, nurses, faith leaders and their congregants, and organizations in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to demand that our nation's leaders find solutions for Americans living without health insurance, especially children.

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