CHAMP ACT WILL IMPROVE CARE FOR SENIORS, DISABLED

PASCRELL GOES TO BAT FOR NEW JERSEY’S RURAL HOSPITALS

Working to restore and improve the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) before its expiration on September 30, 2007, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-08) today voted in the House of Representatives to provide health insurance for eleven million low and moderate income American children.

“The renewed and strengthened health care program approved in the House represents an opportunity for the President to reverse the dramatic rise of uninsured children in New Jersey and states all across the country,” stated Pascrell.  “It is an opportunity that he must not let escape.”

The Children’s Health and Medicare Protection (CHAMP) Act of 2007, which was approved 225-204 would reauthorize SCHIP for six million children.  It would also improve SCHIP to provide states with the tools and incentives necessary to reach an additional five million children who are eligible, but not enrolled.  Over 100,000 New Jersey children are eligible but not insured under SCHIP.

“House approval of the CHAMP Act marks measurable progress towards the rescue of basic health care service for millions of American children,” stated Pascrell.  “I urge the Senate to adopt our approach and empower states with the flexibility to administer adequate health care.  The administration’s plan to pre-determine a ceiling for healthcare eligibility is a short-sighted approach that will have discriminatory consequences against children in states like New Jersey.  Children don not choose to be born into difficult financial position, and must not be punished by misguided health care policy.” 

In the early morning hours of July 27, 2007, the House Ways and Means Committee approved the CHAMP Act for consideration by the full House of Representatives.  As a member of the Committee, Pascrell worked tirelessly for New Jersey’ interests and to expedite completion of a bipartisan, fiscally and morally responsible measure suitable for House approval.

Pascrell fought with the support of the New Jersey Congressional delegation to include a provision that would continue New Jersey's rural imputed floor that was expected to expire September 30th under a CMS rule. The provision would re-establish an 'imputed rural floor'  for increased Medicare reimbursements to more accurately reflect the real life wage costs for rural New Jersey hospitals that must compete in the New York City and Philadelphia labor markets.  The administration responded today by granting a one year extension of the 'imputed rural floor' for thirty-one New Jersey hospitals. 

"This administration's healthcare policies have placed a great deal of stress on New Jersey's hospitals," stated Pascrell.  "After being dealt a damaging financial blow, New Jersey's rural hospitals won a partial victory against an unjust federal reimbursement classification.  My fight to ensure that all New Jersey residents have affordable access to hospital care will continue in our cities, suburbs, and country sides."

The cost of the CHAMP Act will be offset by a modest increase in the cost of tobacco, which has failed to keep up with inflation.  In addition to paying for the SCHIP program, the increase will discourage smoking, help stem the cases of smoking related illness, and ultimately reduce health care costs.

The CHAMP Act also includes provisions to strengthen Medicare, control out of pocket costs for seniors and help ensure seniors have access to the doctors of their choice by stopping a scheduled 10 percent payment cut to doctors.  It ends massive overpayments to private health organizations like HMOs and makes a series of preventative screenings free for Medicare beneficiaries.

“The CHAMP Act will help ensure seniors see the doctor they trust and get the care they need,” added Pascrell.  “It strengthens Medicare and helps prevent seniors from being stuck with higher medical bills.”

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