kids’ health

Cynthia Reese says her family might be unusual poster children for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.

The family of five has private health insurance and is not a beneficiary of the health insurance program for children of the working poor.

But Reese’s family has been plagued by serious health problems. Her 7-year-old twins, one of whom has Down syndrome and autism, were born premature. Her older son was diagnosed with a developmental condition and epilepsy.

Reese said it is because of public funding that her family is able to get the health care they need in Western North Carolina.
“Private insurance alone couldn’t create the kind of hospital we have here,” she said. “Although we have private insurance, if not for SCHIP, if not for Medicaid, there would be no Mission Children’s Hospital. … People who don’t need them don’t even know it’s there, but to those of us who need it, it’s an incredible source of comfort.”

The family traveled to Washington last month to lobby to reauthorize and increase funding for the program, which is due for reauthorization this year.

Meeting lawmakers

The family shared its experiences with Sen. Richard Burr, Rep. Heath Shuler and staff from Sen. Elizabeth Dole’s office as part of the National Association of Children’s Hospitals’ third annual Family Advocacy Day.

About 50 families from around the United States went to the capital to urge their congressmen to vote for reauthorization and increased funding for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, funding for Medicaid and the development of quality measures to improve health care for children.

“We got a great sense that they were supportive of these concepts and supportive of Mission,” Reese said.

Dr. William Lawrence, senior deputy director for North Carolina’s division of medical assistance, said the children’s health insurance program provides insurance for more than 113,000 children in the state. Lawrence said increased funding would also allow more children to be enrolled in the program.

Dr. Susan Mims, director of Mission Children’s Hospital, accompanied Reese’s family to Washington. She said the program is important for both the uninsured and insured population in WNC and that more than half of the funding for Mission Children’s Hospital comes from the public sector.

“Even an average family can end up needing services and end up dependent on the system,” she said. “It was about making sure the legislators understand how important it is to fund these programs.”

source;www.citizen-times.com