Obama Signs National Health Care Reform Bill
Updated March 26, 2010
The President signed into law a historic health reform bill that includes the biggest expansion of Medicaid since its inception in 1965.
Once implemented, this bill will expand coverage to 32 million uninsured people across the nation (including 95 percent of all children) and provides new tools to control health care costs.
The reform package is an important win for California’s children, especially in light of new data from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research noting the number of uninsured children in the state rose to 1.5 million in 2009. Because of its passage, more will gain access to coverage, and currently affordable coverage programs will be protected and strengthened.
With respect to children and families, the bill:
- Continues current coverage eligibility under CHIP, known in California as the Healthy Families Program, which has successfully worked in partnership with Medi-Cal to collectively provide affordable health coverage to about four million California children.
- Provides new coverage under Medi-Cal for low-income adults, including parents of children already on state insurance programs.
- Prohibits health plans from denying coverage to children due to pre-existing conditions, starting this year.
- Requires insurance companies to provide pediatrician-recommended care for children so they can grow and thrive.
- Extends health coverage for youths in foster care and youths on their family health plans up to age 26.
- Provides new investments in prevention without cost sharing. Insurance companies will be required to cover screenings and benefits recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
- Makes new investments in home visiting programs for at risk families.
- Provides $11 billion to community health centers.
- Extends protection of federal civil rights laws to the health reform bill, thereby protecting individuals from discrimination on the basis of certain characteristics (including race, language, gender, age and disability).
THANK YOU to all the supporters of children’s health who made their voices heard and joined the chorus of Americans calling for meaningful health reform!
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