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CWLA President Shay Bilchik Addresses Health Care Access Rally
For more information, contact
Joyce Johnson
Phone: 804/492-4519
Cell: 703/980-7641
E-mail: jjohnson@cwla.org
April 29, 2003, Washington, DC -- Speaking at a Health Care Access rally on Capitol Hill today, Shay Bilchik, President and CEO of the Child Welfare League of America, urged Congress to "ensure that all our children, particularly our most vulnerable children, receive the health care services they need today - not tomorrow, not next month, not next year, but TODAY!"
Citing our current fiscal crisis, higher unemployment, and rising health care costs, more children - not less - are going to need health insurance, Medicaid, and SCHIP, commented Bilchik. Mr. Bilchik noted that health coverage is needed for our most vulnerable children, the over 547,000 children in foster care. Children of color continue to be over-represented in the child welfare system. 40% of the children in foster care are black; 38% are white; 15% are Hispanic; and 2% are Native American. Currently 20 million children receive Medicaid, but there still remain 8.5 million uninsured children in this country.
Speaking at a rally sponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Asian and Pacific American Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and Congressional Native America Caucus, Mr. Bilchik noted that states are in need of federal help to avoid making budget decisions harmful to children and elderly citizens. Bilchik called on Members of Congress to:
- Support immediate fiscal relief to states so states will be able to continue to provide and expand Medicaid coverage;
- Ensure Medicaid remains an entitlement, not a block grant so that children may continue to receive these guaranteed health services;
- And increase and improve health care coverage for all children and their families.
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