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"Wsure Kids Nower
OF
SEAL The OF THE PRES UNITED THIP
V
The White House
PHOTOCOPY
PRESERVATION
H on letter head
sent to HHS on
fraud abuse
praise AARP Justice shept
HHS $
1
Long standing Chitms
Health care providers or supplier
Who bilk sys are no friend of
binnies, us OR oth providers
bad apples.
Today working up Partners
\ gennies - have & continue who
to work W others committed
are equally
PHOTOCOPY
PRESERVATION
February 22, 1999
CHILDREN'S HEALTH OUTREACH EVENT
DATE:
February 23, 1999
LOCATION:
East Room
TIME:
1:45pm - 2:10pm (Briefing)
2:15pm - 2:30pm (Meet & Greet)
2:30pm - 3:10pm (Event)
FROM:
Bruce Reed, Mary Beth Cahill
I.
PURPOSE
To launch the nationwide "Insure Kids Now" campaign aimed at enrolling eligible but
uninsured child in Medicaid and the new Children's Health Insurance Program. You will
launch the National Governors' Association/White House/Bell Atlantic, toll-free phone
number and preview both the First Lady's and NBC's public service announcements.
You also will commend various media, corporate, and grass-roots organizations for their
commitment to the campaign to enroll uninsured children.
II.
BACKGROUND
You and First Lady have made improving children's health a priority. Studies show that
children without health insurance are more likely to be sick as newborns, less likely to be
immunized as preschoolers, and less likely to receive medical treatment when they are
injured.
Historic new options for children. In 1997, you created the Children's Health
Insurance Program (CHIP), which devotes $24 billion dollars over five years for
health coverage for children. Today, 47 states have implemented CHIP; they
expect to enroll over 2.5 million children through this program when fully
operational.
The challenge of enrolling children. Ensuring that all eligible children get
enrolled in health insurance programs is a formidable challenge. Barriers like
complicated applications, lack of coordination between programs, and
misinformation about eligibility criteria prevent uninsured children from getting
the coverage that they need. To remove these barriers, you have taken numerous
actions to encourage states to streamline their application and enrollment
processes, accept mail-in applications, and place eligibility workers in convenient
locations. You also ordered federal agencies to provide active assistance in
enrolling children through their many programs serving working families.
New Nationwide "Insure Kids Now" Outreach Campaign
Building on last year's efforts, today you and First Lady will launch the "Insure Kids
Now" public-private campaign. For the first time, major TV and radio networks,
corporations, health care organizations, religious groups, and other community-based
organizations will join federal agencies in disseminating information about children's
health insurance.
Launching "1-877-KIDS NOW" Hotline. Today, Governors Carper and Leavitt
unveiled 1-877 KIDS NOW, a new toll free number developed by the National
Governors Association in partnership with Bell Atlantic and the Administration,
to provide state-specific information about Medicaid and CHIP to families in all
50 states. Families calling this number will receive information about eligibility
criteria, benefits, and how to apply for coverage. Beginning in October, the
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) plans to assume responsibility
for operating this toll-free line.
Running public service announcements on national television about Insure
Kids Now. Beginning tomorrow, NBC, ABC, Univision, Turner Entertainment,
the National Association of Broadcasters, and Viacom/Paramount will air public
service announcements providing information about the importance of health
insurance and promoting the Insure Kids Now number.
Airing radio advertisements about Insure Kids Now. Today, HHS will begin
funding radio ads on Insure Kids Now in 45 States and the District of Columbia,
starting with California, Utah, Colorado, Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Ohio,
Kentucky, North Carolina, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Maine. Later this year,
Radio Disney and Bonneville will run similar ads nationwide. Radio reaches 77
percent of consumers daily, making radio ads a highly effective way to reach the
millions of families with children eligible for Medicaid or CHIP.
Publishing information about Insure Kids Now. This spring, USA Today will
publish an editorial and Blue Cross/Blue Shield will publish a full page
advertisement in the April issue of Time Magazine on children's health insurance.
In addition, Pfizer, the American College of Emergency Physicians, the American
Nurses Association, the United Way, the American College of Physicians, the
National Collaboration for Youth, the Association of State and Territorial Health
Officials, Wyeth Lederle, Kaiser Permanente, Volunteers of America, the March
of Dimes, the Points of Light Foundation, Hope for Kids, the Veterans of Foreign
Wars, the National Education Association, and religious organizations from
across the country have agreed to put information on Insure Kids Now in their
product handbooks, circulars, and mass mailings, as well as to distribute posters
featuring the Insure Kids Now number to their clients and constituents. Print
media is an effective educational tool, especially when used together with other
media, because it allows the reader to reread and thoroughly digest the
information.
Printing the Insure Kids Now toll free number on commonly used products.
Building on a series of commitments made in 1998, K-Mart, General Motors, the
American Dental Hygienists Association, and American Medical Response have
pledged to put the new toll-free number on grocery bags, toothbrushes, diaper
boxes, pharmaceutical products, child safety seats, and schoolbuses.
Expanding federal efforts to promote children's health insurance outreach.
Your FY 2000 budget includes over $1.2 billion to assist states to engage in
children's health outreach activities. In addition, the Federal Task Force on
children's health outreach has begun new outreach efforts, including launching
the new "InsureKidsNow.Gov" website; distributing 145,000 posters to over
20,000 health centers, providers, and other grantees; providing 92,000 USDA
employees with information about outreach, including the new toll-free number,
on their wage and earning statements; and sending a letter and posters with the
Insure Kids Now number to all 170 sites in the Department of Justice's Operation
Weed and Seed program, a crime prevention and community revitalization
initiative.
III.
PARTICIPANTS
Briefing Participants
Secretary Donna Shalala
Bruce Reed
Mary Beth Cahill
Doug Sosnik
Mickey Ibarra
Chris Jennings
Jeanne Lambrew
Janet Murguia
Neera Tanden
Jordan Tamagni
Event Participants
The First Lady
Secretary Donna Shalala
Governor Thomas Carper (D-DE)
Governor Mike Leavitt (R-UT)
IV.
PRESS PLAN
Open Press.
V.
SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
-You will be announced into the East Room, accompanied by the First Lady, Secretary
Donna Shalala, Governor Thomas Carper, and Governor Michael Leavitt.
-The First Lady will make remarks and introduce Secretary Donna Shalala.
-Secretary Donna Shalala will make remarks and introduce Governor Michael Leavitt.
-Governor Michael Leavitt will make remarks and introduce Governor Thomas Carper.
-Governor Thomas Carper will make remarks and introduce you.
-You will make remarks and introduce both the First Lady's and NBC's public service
announcements.
-You will conclude your remarks, work a ropeline, and depart.
VI.
REMARKS
To be provided by Speechwriting.
President Set to Establish a Toll Children in Health Insurance Pattp://search.nytimes.com/search/d.oc+site+ib-site+7+0twAAA/medicaid
NATIONAL
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The New York Times
ON THE WEB
Home
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Marketplace
February 23, 1999
President Set to Establish a Toll-Free Number To
Enroll Children in Health Insurance Plans
Related Articles
Issue in Depth: Health Care
Forum
Join a Discussion on Health Care Reform
By ROBERT PEAR
W
ASHINGTON Alarmed at an increase in the number of people
without health insurance, President Clinton will announce on Tuesday
that he is establishing a national toll-free telephone number to enroll
children in Medicaid and in a separate new health program for people under
the age of 19.
The phone number is 877-KIDS-NOW (877-543-7669). Callers will be
automatically connected to the Medicaid agency or the health department of
the state they are calling from. They may then obtain free or low-cost health
insurance for their children. Many states allow families to apply by mail.
In August 1997, Congress created the Children's Health Insurance Program,
and in December 1997, Clinton ordered a major effort to locate and sign up
millions of children who were eligible for Medicaid. But the erosion of health
insurance coverage has continued, as poor families, the Clinton Administration
and state officials have not fully exploited the potential of the two programs.
On Tuesday, the President and leaders of the National Governors' Association
will announce steps to reverse that trend.
Gov. Thomas R. Carper of Delaware, a Democrat who is chairman of the
association, and Gov. Michael O. Leavitt of Utah, a Republican, said the
special telephone line could help millions of families. State officials said they
had been hiring people to answer calls.
The Census Bureau says that at least 10.7 million children lack health
insurance. The White House says that half of them are eligible for Medicaid or
the new insurance program, but have not enrolled in either.
The White House has enlisted many businesses and broadcasters in a campaign
to increase enrollment.
Kmart will put the toll-free telephone number on its shopping bags, diaper
boxes and pharmaceutical products. The General Motors Corporation will put
labels with the number on child safety seats. NBC, ABC, Black Entertainment
Television and Univision, the Spanish-language network, will run television
1 of 3
2/23/99 12:20 PM
President Set to Establish a Toll- Children in Health Insurance Platp://search.nytimes.com/search/d.oc+ste+iib-sitet7H0twAAA/medicaid
and radio advertisements publicizing the number. And the Federal Government
will run radio spots in 45 states.
Changes in Federal welfare policy, including the landmark law that Clinton
signed in August 1996, have increased the number of poor people without
health insurance, experts on health policy say.
The number of welfare recipients has plunged 35 percent since the measure was
signed into law. Children are often eligible for Medicaid after they lose cash
assistance, but many parents do not know that their children may still qualify
for Medicaid, and state officials do not always assess eligibility.
Jonathan M. Stein, a lawyer at Community Legal Services in Philadelphia, said:
"State and Federal Governments have failed to carry out Federal laws that
mandate a continuation of Medicaid coverage for most families leaving
welfare. In Pennsylvania, tens of thousands of parents and children should have
been continued on Medicaid, but have been erroneously terminated, without
any active intervention by the Federal Government."
Federal officials said they were looking into the situation.
Matt Salo, a Medicaid specialist at the National Governors' Association, said it
was proving difficult for caseworkers to reconcile the contradictory messages
implicit in the 1996 welfare law: that "welfare is bad, everyone should stay off
welfare," but "Medicaid is good, everyone should stay on Medicaid."
Eunice Kennedy Shriver, a longtime advocate for people with mental
retardation, said she was "very concerned" that Federal Medicaid officials had
not enforced the law that guarantees continuation of Medicaid coverage for
disabled children who lost cash assistance in the last two years. Because of
inaction by the Federal Government, Mrs. Shriver said, thousands of children
have lost medical assistance in some states.
Even though the Federal Government is establishing one telephone number for
its campaign to "insure kids now," the eligibility criteria vary widely by state.
For example, information posted on the Internet says a child in a family of three
may qualify for insurance under New York's Child Health Plus program if the
family has an income under $31,980 a year. But the comparable figures are
$40,950 for Connecticut; $13,650 for Texas and Mississippi; and $27,300 in
New Jersey, Florida and California.
The number of people without health insurance increased an average of 1
million a year in the last decade and now exceeds 43 million, after a
particularly sharp rise in 1997.
The increases occurred even though the Government has a wide safety net
intended to guarantee medical assistance for low-income families, including
these provisions:
"Under Federal law, if a family loses welfare because of increased earnings
from employment, the family is supposed to remain eligible for Medicaid for
six months "without any reapplication" for benefits. Moreover, the state is
supposed to offer another six months of Medicaid to most such families.
|Under Federal Medicaid rules, a state must "continue to furnish Medicaid
regularly to all eligible individuals until they are found to be ineligible." Thus,
Federal courts have said, if a family loses cash assistance, the state may not
automatically end Medicaid coverage, but must, on its own initiative,
2 of 3
2/23/99 12:20 PM
President Set to Establish a Toll Children in Health Insurance Plahttp://search.nytimes.com/search/d..oc+site+ib-site+740twAAA+medicaid
determine whether the family might qualify for Medicaid on some other
ground.
Under the 1996 welfare law, states must provide Medicaid to anyone who
would have qualified for welfare under the eligibility rules in effect in July
1996. States may adopt new, more restrictive eligibility standards for welfare,
but many families ineligible for cash assistance under those standards will be
eligible for Medicaid.
The latest data from the Census Bureau, issued in September, show trends that
worry many health policy experts.
The proportion of children with no health insurance of any kind increased to 15
percent in 1997, from 13.8 percent in 1995, when many states began cutting
their welfare rolls. The proportion of poor children with no health insurance
rose to 23.8 percent in 1997, from 21.4 percent in 1995.
Home I Site Index | Site Search I Forums I Archives | Marketplace
Quick News I Page One Plus I International | National/N.Y | Business I Technology
|
Science Sports Weather Editorial Op-Ed Arts Automobiles Books Diversions
Job Market
Real
Estate
Travel
Help/Feedback I Classifieds I Services | New York Today
Copyright 1999 The New York Times Company
3 of 3
2/23/99 12:20 PM
President Set to Establish a Toll- Children in Health Insurance Patsp://search.nytimes.com/search/d..oc+site+ib-sitet7t0twAAA+medicaid
NATIONAL
Politics
The New ON THE Times
Home
Site Index
Site Search
Forums
Archives
Marketplace
February 23, 1999
President Set to Establish a Toll-Free Number To
Enroll Children in Health Insurance Plans
Related Articles
Issue in Depth: Health Care
Forum
Join a Discussion on Health Care Reform
By ROBERT PEAR
W
ASHINGTON Alarmed at an increase in the number of people
without health insurance, President Clinton will announce on Tuesday
that he is establishing a national toll-free telephone number to enroll
children in Medicaid and in a separate new health program for people under
the age of 19.
The phone number is 877-KIDS-NOW (877-543-7669). Callers will be
automatically connected to the Medicaid agency or the health department of
the state they are calling from. They may then obtain free or low-cost health
insurance for their children. Many states allow families to apply by mail.
In August 1997, Congress created the Children's Health Insurance Program,
and in December 1997, Clinton ordered a major effort to locate and sign up
millions of children who were eligible for Medicaid. But the erosion of health
insurance coverage has continued, as poor families, the Clinton Administration
and state officials have not fully exploited the potential of the two programs.
On Tuesday, the President and leaders of the National Governors' Association
will announce steps to reverse that trend.
Gov. Thomas R. Carper of Delaware, a Democrat who is chairman of the
association, and Gov. Michael O. Leavitt of Utah, a Republican, said the
special telephone line could help millions of families. State officials said they
had been hiring people to answer calls.
The Census Bureau says that at least 10.7 million children lack health
insurance. The White House says that half of them are eligible for Medicaid or
the new insurance program, but have not enrolled in either.
The White House has enlisted many businesses and broadcasters in a campaign
to increase enrollment.
Kmart will put the toll-free telephone number on its shopping bags, diaper
boxes and pharmaceutical products. The General Motors Corporation will put
labels with the number on child safety seats. NBC, ABC, Black Entertainment
Television and Univision, the Spanish-language network, will run television
1 of 3
2/23/99 12:20 PM
President Set to Establish a Toll Children in Health Insurance Platp://search.nytimes.com/search/d.oc+site+iib-site+70twAAA-medicaid
and radio advertisements publicizing the number. And the Federal Government
will run radio spots in 45 states.
Changes in Federal welfare policy, including the landmark law that Clinton
signed in August 1996, have increased the number of poor people without
health insurance, experts on health policy say.
The number of welfare recipients has plunged 35 percent since the measure was
signed into law. Children are often eligible for Medicaid after they lose cash
assistance, but many parents do not know that their children may still qualify
for Medicaid, and state officials do not always assess eligibility.
Jonathan M. Stein, a lawyer at Community Legal Services in Philadelphia, said:
"State and Federal Governments have failed to carry out Federal laws that
mandate a continuation of Medicaid coverage for most families leaving
welfare. In Pennsylvania, tens of thousands of parents and children should have
been continued on Medicaid, but have been erroneously terminated, without
any active intervention by the Federal Government."
Federal officials said they were looking into the situation.
Matt Salo, a Medicaid specialist at the National Governors' Association, said it
was proving difficult for caseworkers to reconcile the contradictory messages
implicit in the 1996 welfare law: that "welfare is bad, everyone should stay off
welfare," but "Medicaid is good, everyone should stay on Medicaid."
Eunice Kennedy Shriver, a longtime advocate for people with mental
retardation, said she was "very concerned" that Federal Medicaid officials had
not enforced the law that guarantees continuation of Medicaid coverage for
disabled children who lost cash assistance in the last two years. Because of
inaction by the Federal Government, Mrs. Shriver said, thousands of children
have lost medical assistance in some states.
Even though the Federal Government is establishing one telephone number for
its campaign to "insure kids now," the eligibility criteria vary widely by state.
For example, information posted on the Internet says a child in a family of three
may qualify for insurance under New York's Child Health Plus program if the
family has an income under $31,980 a year. But the comparable figures are
$40,950 for Connecticut; $13,650 for Texas and Mississippi; and $27,300 in
New Jersey, Florida and California.
The number of people without health insurance increased an average of 1
million a year in the last decade and now exceeds 43 million, after a
particularly sharp rise in 1997.
The increases occurred even though the Government has a wide safety net
intended to guarantee medical assistance for low-income families, including
these provisions:
"Under Federal law, if a family loses welfare because of increased earnings
from employment, the family is supposed to remain eligible for Medicaid for
six months "without any reapplication" for benefits. Moreover, the state is
supposed to offer another six months of Medicaid to most such families.
Under Federal Medicaid rules, a state must "continue to furnish Medicaid
regularly to all eligible individuals until they are found to be ineligible." Thus,
Federal courts have said, if a family loses cash assistance, the state may not
automatically end Medicaid coverage, but must, on its own initiative,
2 of 3
2/23/99 12:20 PM
President Set to Establish a Toll- Children in Health Insurance Plattp://search.nytimes.com/search/d.oc+site+iib-site+7-0+wAAA+medicad
determine whether the family might qualify for Medicaid on some other
ground.
Under the 1996 welfare law, states must provide Medicaid to anyone who
would have qualified for welfare under the eligibility rules in effect in July
1996. States may adopt new, more restrictive eligibility standards for welfare,
but many families ineligible for cash assistance under those standards will be
eligible for Medicaid.
The latest data from the Census Bureau, issued in September, show trends that
worry many health policy experts.
The proportion of children with no health insurance of any kind increased to 15
percent in 1997, from 13.8 percent in 1995, when many states began cutting
their welfare rolls. The proportion of poor children with no health insurance
rose to 23.8 percent in 1997, from 21.4 percent in 1995.
Home I Site Index I Site Search I Forums I Archives Marketplace
Quick News | Page One Plus I International I National/N.Y I Business I Technology
Science
Sports
Weather
Editorial
Op-Ed
Arts
Automobiles
Books
Diversions
Job Market
Real
Estate
Travel
Help/Feedback I Classifieds I Services I New York Today
Copyright 1999 The New York Times Company
3 of 3
2/23/99 12:20 PM
February 22, 1999
CHILDREN'S HEALTH OUTREACH EVENT
DATE:
February 23, 1999
LOCATION:
East Room
TIME:
1:45pm - 2:10pm (Briefing)
2:15pm - 2:30pm (Meet & Greet)
2:30pm - 3:10pm (Event)
FROM:
Bruce Reed, Mary Beth Cahill
I.
PURPOSE
To launch the nationwide "Insure Kids Now" campaign aimed at enrolling eligible but
uninsured child in Medicaid and the new Children's Health Insurance Program. You will
launch the National Governors' Association/White House/Bell Atlantic, toll-free phone
number and preview both the First Lady's and NBC's public service announcements.
You also will commend various media, corporate, and grass-roots organizations for their
commitment to the campaign to enroll uninsured children.
II.
BACKGROUND
You and First Lady have made improving children's health a priority. Studies show that
children without health insurance are more likely to be sick as newborns, less likely to be
immunized as preschoolers, and less likely to receive medical treatment when they are
injured.
Historic new options for children. In 1997, you created the Children's Health
Insurance Program (CHIP), which devotes $24 billion dollars over five years for
health coverage for children. Today, 47 states have implemented CHIP; they
expect to enroll over 2.5 million children through this program when fully
operational.
The challenge of enrolling children. Ensuring that all eligible children get
enrolled in health insurance programs is a formidable challenge. Barriers like
complicated applications, lack of coordination between programs, and
misinformation about eligibility criteria prevent uninsured children from getting
the coverage that they need. To remove these barriers, you have taken numerous
actions to encourage states to streamline their application and enrollment
processes, accept mail-in applications, and place eligibility workers in convenient
locations. You also ordered federal agencies to provide active assistance in
enrolling children through their many programs serving working families.
New Nationwide "Insure Kids Now" Outreach Campaign
Building on last year's efforts, today you and First Lady will launch the "Insure Kids
Now" public-private campaign. For the first time, major TV and radio networks,
corporations, health care organizations, religious groups, and other community-based
organizations will join federal agencies in disseminating information about children's
health insurance.
Launching "1-877-KIDS NOW" Hotline. Today, Governors Carper and Leavitt
unveiled 1-877 KIDS NOW, a new toll free number developed by the National
Governors Association in partnership with Bell Atlantic and the Administration,
to provide state-specific information about Medicaid and CHIP to families in all
50 states. Families calling this number will receive information about eligibility
criteria, benefits, and how to apply for coverage. Beginning in October, the
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) plans to assume responsibility
for operating this toll-free line.
Running public service announcements on national television about Insure
Kids Now. Beginning tomorrow, NBC, ABC, Univision, Turner Entertainment,
the National Association of Broadcasters, and Viacom/Paramount will air public
service announcements providing information about the importance of health
insurance and promoting the Insure Kids Now number.
Airing radio advertisements about Insure Kids Now. Today, HHS will begin
funding radio ads on Insure Kids Now in 45 States and the District of Columbia,
starting with California, Utah, Colorado, Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Ohio,
Kentucky, North Carolina, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Maine. Later this year,
Radio Disney and Bonneville will run similar ads nationwide. Radio reaches 77
percent of consumers daily, making radio ads a highly effective way to reach the
millions of families with children eligible for Medicaid or CHIP.
Publishing information about Insure Kids Now. This spring, USA Today will
publish an editorial and Blue Cross/Blue Shield will publish a full page
advertisement in the April issue of Time Magazine on children's health insurance.
In addition, Pfizer, the American College of Emergency Physicians, the American
Nurses Association, the United Way, the American College of Physicians, the
National Collaboration for Youth, the Association of State and Territorial Health
Officials, Wyeth Lederle, Kaiser Permanente, Volunteers of America, the March
of Dimes, the Points of Light Foundation, Hope for Kids, the Veterans of Foreign
Wars, the National Education Association, and religious organizations from
across the country have agreed to put information on Insure Kids Now in their
product handbooks, circulars, and mass mailings, as well as to distribute posters
featuring the Insure Kids Now number to their clients and constituents. Print
media is an effective educational tool, especially when used together with other
media, because it allows the reader to reread and thoroughly digest the
information.
Printing the Insure Kids Now toll free number on commonly used products.
Building on a series of commitments made in 1998, K-Mart, General Motors, the
American Dental Hygienists Association, and American Medical Response have
pledged to put the new toll-free number on grocery bags, toothbrushes, diaper
boxes, pharmaceutical products, child safety seats, and schoolbuses.
Expanding federal efforts to promote children's health insurance outreach.
Your FY 2000 budget includes over $1.2 billion to assist states to engage in
children's health outreach activities. In addition, the Federal Task Force on
children's health outreach has begun new outreach efforts, including launching
the new "InsureKidsNow.Gov" website; distributing 145,000 posters to over
20,000 health centers, providers, and other grantees; providing 92,000 USDA
employees with information about outreach, including the new toll-free number,
on their wage and earning statements; and sending a letter and posters with the
Insure Kids Now number to all 170 sites in the Department of Justice's Operation
Weed and Seed program, a crime prevention and community revitalization
initiative.
III.
PARTICIPANTS
Briefing Participants
Secretary Donna Shalala
Bruce Reed
Mary Beth Cahill
Doug Sosnik
Mickey Ibarra
Chris Jennings
Jeanne Lambrew
Janet Murguia
Neera Tanden
Jordan Tamagni
Event Participants
The First Lady
Secretary Donna Shalala
Governor Thomas Carper (D-DE)
Governor Mike Leavitt (R-UT)
IV.
PRESS PLAN
Open Press.
V.
SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
-You will be announced into the East Room, accompanied by the First Lady, Secretary
Donna Shalala, Governor Thomas Carper, and Governor Michael Leavitt.
-The First Lady will make remarks and introduce Secretary Donna Shalala.
-Secretary Donna Shalala will make remarks and introduce Governor Michael Leavitt.
-Governor Michael Leavitt will make remarks and introduce Governor Thomas Carper.
-Governor Thomas Carper will make remarks and introduce you.
-You will make remarks and introduce both the First Lady's and NBC's public service
announcements.
-You will conclude your remarks, work a ropeline, and depart.
VI.
REMARKS
To be provided by Speechwriting.
PRESIDENT CLINTON ANNOUNCES A SERIES OF NEW EFFORTS TO ENROLL
UNINSURED CHILDREN IN HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAMS
February 18, 1998
Today, the President is announcing the first major state coverage expansions under the recently enacted
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and released information showing that many States will
soon follow. He also unveiled an unprecedented set of public/private initiatives designed to enroll the
millions of uninsured children who are eligible but not enrolled in Medicaid and other state-based
children's health programs. These initiatives have been designed in partnership with Governors, health
care providers, children's health advocates, foundations, businesses and many others who are committed
to providing health care coverage for the nation's uninsured children.
Over 10 million children in America are uninsured. Nearly 90 percent of these children have parents who
work, but do not have access to or cannot afford health insurance. Over 3 million of these uninsured
children are already eligible for Medicaid. However, many families are not aware that their children are
eligible for Medicaid, and others have difficulty filling out the application. Similar problems could
undermine the new Children's Health Insurance Program's goal to enroll millions of uninsured children.
With these challenges in mind, the President:
ANNOUNCED THAT COLORADO AND SOUTH CAROLINA HAVE JOINED ALABAMA
AS THE FIRST COVERAGE EXPANSIONS UNDER THE NEW CHILDREN'S HEALTH
INSURANCE PROGRAM (CHIP). Today, the President is announcing that Colorado and South
Carolina join Alabama as the first states to come into the children's health program. In late January,
Alabama received approval to expand its Medicaid program to children ages 14 to 18 up to 100
percent of poverty. South Carolina will expand its Medicaid program to provide coverage to all
children up to 150 percent of poverty. And, Colorado builds upon its current non-Medicaid program
to cover children up to 185 percent of poverty. The President is also announcing that many more
States are well on their way to expanding coverage to more uninsured children. Currently, 14
additional states have submitted plans to HHS for approval, and nearly 30 States are actively planning
new ways to address the needs of uninsured children.
RELEASED A NEW PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE TO LAUNCH A GOVERNMENT-WIDE
EFFORT TO ENROLL UNINSURED CHILDREN. In an executive memorandum to eight
Federal agencies with jurisdiction over children's programs - the Departments of Agriculture,
Interior, Education, HHS, HUD, Interior, Labor, and Treasury and the Social Security Administration
-- the President is directing the establishment of a multi-agency effort to enroll uninsured children.
These agencies run programs such as WIC, Food Stamps, Head Start, and public housing that cover
many of the same children who are uninsured and eligible for Medicaid or other health insurance. The
memorandum instructs these agencies: (1) to identify all their employees and grantees who might
come into contact with these children and ensure that these individuals are aware of the health
insurance programs available to children; (2) to develop an intensive children's outreach initiative,
such as distributing information, coordinating toll-free numbers, and simplifying and coordinating
application forms; and (3) to report back in 90 days on their plan to help enroll uninsured children.
HIGHLIGHTED BUDGET PROPOSALS THAT PROVIDE MEDICAID ENROLLMENT
INCENTIVES TO STATES. The President's FY 1999 budget invests $900 million over 5 years in
children's health outreach policies, including the use of schools and child care centers to enroll
children in Medicaid. The budget provides states with the option of automatically enrolling children
in Medicaid even before having received all of the complicated eligibility and enrollment forms (a
provision known as "presumptive eligibility"). It also expands the use of a Federally-financed
administrative fund SO that it can underwrite the costs for all uninsured children - not just the limited
population allowed under current law.
ANNOUNCED A HISTORIC PRIVATE SECTOR COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE
OUTREACH. To complement the public outreach effort, the President is announcing unprecedented
new contributions from the private sector to help ensure that all children who are eligible for health
insurance receive it, including:
-
A new toll-free number that directs families around the nation to their state enrollment
centers. The President is announcing that Bell Atlantic will establish and operate a toll-free
number to help states enroll uninsured children. The number, which will be put in place during the
upcoming months, will be developed in cooperation with the nation's Governors. This will help
millions of families around the nation by directing them automatically to their local state Medicaid
enrollment agency.
-
Over $23 million in commitments from private foundations across the country. The Robert
Wood Johnson Foundation will spend $13 million over the next 3 years to fund innovative state-
local coalitions to design and conduct outreach initiatives, simplify enrollment processes, and
coordinate existing coverage programs. The Kaiser Family Foundation will spend up to $10
million over the next 5 years on studies to help understand why eligible children do not enroll in
existing programs and how best to provide insurance coverage for these children. America's
Promise, with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and in collaboration with the
American Academy of Pediatrics, will mobilize corporations such as SmithKline Beecham and
Schering Plough and local communities nationwide in children's health outreach efforts.
-
New initiatives from corporate and advocacy organizations to reach out to uninsured
children. Pampers has volunteered to include a letter in its child birth education packages, given
to 90 percent of first-time mothers, providing families information about available health
insurance options. Grocery stores and chain drug stores across the country will provide
information about the new Bell Atlantic toll-free number to their customers. The National
Education Association is launching an unprecedented effort to educate teachers on how they can
inform children and their families about health insurance, through national newsletters,
conferences, and special training sessions. The American Hospital Association's Campaign for
Coverage will increase its nationwide initiative to engage hospitals in helping uninsured
Americans, including children.
ISSUED A CHALLENGE ACROSS AMERICA TO FIND NEW WAYS TO REACH OUT TO
UNINSURED CHILDREN. The President is challenging every physician, nurse, health care
provider, business, school, parent, grandparent, and community across the nation, to find new ways to
ensure that uninsured children eligible for health insurance are enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP. This
national commitment should not stop until every eligible child across the country is enrolled in one of
the existing health care programs.
PRESIDENT'S CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE OUTREACH
EXECUTIVE MEMORANDUM AND INTERAGENCY REPORT
June 22, 1998
Today, in an Executive Memorandum, the President ordered eight Federal agencies to enact over
150 initiatives designed to help enroll millions of uninsured children in Medicaid or the new
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). These initiatives are included in a report to the
President that is also being released today. This report and the recommendations were produced by
the Departments of Health and Human Services, Treasury, Agriculture, Education, Labor, Housing
and Urban Development, Interior, and the Social Security Administration.
Taken together, these actions represent an unprecedented, cross-government commitment to provide
affordable insurance to children. The American Academy of Pediatrics characterized these
initiatives as "representing the best of creative government and absolutely critical to achieving our
common goal of providing health insurance for all eligible children."
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE REPORT. As the first step in his public-private children's health
outreach campaign, the President directed his own workforce to initiate an historic commitment to
enrolling uninsured children in State health insurance programs. In response, eight Federal agencies
developed plans in three areas: how to educate their workforce; how this workforce can help
educate families about State health insurance programs; and how to coordinate cross-agency and
public-private efforts to identify and enroll children in these programs.
Educating Federal Workers, State Workers, and Grantees about Children's Health
Many Federal and State workers, contractors or grantees have direct contact with families with
uninsured children. For example, the majority of uninsured children probably have participated in a
school lunch program, subsidized child care, or Head Start. Recognizing this fact, the President
ordered the Federal agencies to, among other actions:
Send letters from the Cabinet Secretaries to about 350,000 Federal workers, describing this
children's health outreach initiative and strongly encouraging them to help enroll uninsured
children.
Train the staff of Federal / State information clearinghouses, technical assistance centers,
providers, and eligibility workers about children's health. Targets include:
-
National Health Service Corps and Area Health Education Centers that train about 21,000
students and 50,000 providers;
- The Education Department's 40 parent assistance programs and 312 community learning
centers serving over 50,000 students and community residents; and
-
Regional and State coordinators for 1,800 State Employment Security Agencies that provide
job placement, counseling, and labor market information to job seekers.
Educating Families. Many Federal workers and grantees determine eligibility, counsel families,
and provide services in non-health programs. This gives them an opportunity to educate families
and assist them in enrolling children in Medicaid or CHIP. The agencies have proposed to:
Distribute information on options and/or applications to families at:
-
700 community health centers;
-
1,400 Head Start, State Child Support and TANF sites;
-
400 IRS Walk-In Centers and 8,600 Voluntary Income Tax Assistance sites;
-
1,300 Social Security Administration field offices;
-
3,000 employers, schools, education organizations, and community and religious groups that
comprise the Education Department's Partnership for Family Involvement program;
-
185 Federally operated and Tribally contracted schools, 24 reservation-based community
colleges, and over 500 Indian Child Welfare programs;
-
15,000 public housing projects and 81 field offices and information sites; and
-
113 Job Corps Centers and 700 One-Stop Career Centers.
Coordinating Efforts Across Agencies and with the Private Sector. Efforts to enroll uninsured
children will be more effective if coordinated. To facilitate coordination, agencies will:
Link Internet sites, to provide both Federal workers and families using various sites, with links
to children's health insurance outreach site. (e.g., America's Job Bank site, used by millions)
Coordinate outreach campaign with major national associations, advocacy groups, and
other private organizations. Each Department has a set of outside organizations that could be
partners in this outreach initiative. These include:
-
Elderly groups, to assist in enrolling uninsured grandchildren;
-
Historically Black Colleges and Universities, to develop strategies for minority children;
-
Earned Income Tax Credit outreach organizations, which target similar families; and
-
National Education Association, to focus on school-based approaches.
Cross-Cutting Issues. Two topics were special focuses of the task force.
Vulnerable children. Many children eligible for Medicaid or CHIP are difficult to reach
because of sociocultural and linguistic differences, low literacy levels, geographic isolation,
homelessness, or transient living situations that make it difficult for them to enroll in health
insurance. A number of activities are proposed to address these unique problems, including:
-
Use of mapping to identify all service delivery sites on reservations that could be used for
children's health outreach to Indian families;
-
Media campaign for Hispanic children to identify barriers to enrollment and Spanish
language material; and
-
Use of "distance learning," such as new telemedicine communication capabilities, to educate
rural providers about children's health insurance.
Coordinating program enrollment. Integration of health and non-health program enrollment
can increase the number of children with insurance. Models identified include:
-
Single application for multiple programs: Most States (e.g., Illinois, Iowa, Maryland,
Michigan, Ohio) use joint applications for their social services programs.
-
"Adjunctive" eligibility (allowing eligibility for one program to fulfil some or all of the
eligibility requirements for another): for example, children are automatically eligible for
Florida's Healthy Start program if eligible for the school lunch program.
Full Report Available at www.hcfa.gov
VICE PRESIDENT GORE UNVEILS NEW EFFORTS TO TARGET AND ENROLL
UNINSURED CHILDREN, ANNOUNCES THREE STATE CHILDREN'S HEALTH
INSURANCE PROGRAM APPROVALS AND HIGHLIGHTS THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES
RURAL COMMUNITIES FACE IN INSURING CHILDREN
September 1, 1998
Today, the Vice President joins the Children's Health Fund in kicking off a new public/private effort to
reach out and enroll uninsured children across the nation. At this event, the Vice President hosted the
National Child Health Caravan on its multi-state tour to promote children's outreach; unveiled major new
children's health outreach and enrollment efforts from multiple departments within the Federal
government; announced three state children's health insurance program (CHIP) approvals; and
highlighted the special challenges that rural states face in targeting and covering uninsured children.
There are over four million children who are currently eligible but not enrolled in Medicaid and there
could be hundreds of thousands more children eligible and not signed up as states implement CHIP.
Recent studies have shown that uninsured children are more likely to be sick as newborns; less likely to
be immunized; and less likely to receive treatment for recurring illnesses, like ear infections or asthma.
The Vice President also highlighted the particular challenges in enrolling children in rural areas, where
2.5 million of the nation's uninsured children live. Today, the Vice President:
Highlighted National Child Health Caravan. The Vice President hosted the National Child Health
Caravan, on a multi-state journey to reach out to and enroll uninsured children and to call attention to the
needs of medically underserved children. The Caravan will deliver new mobile units that provide a range
of health services for children in medically underserved areas.
Announced New Initiatives to Identify and Enroll Uninsured Children. In response to the public-
private outreach initiative the President and First Lady announced earlier this year, pharmacies, grocery
stores, and other private companies are launching efforts to reach out to families with uninsured children.
In June, at the Vice President's Family Conference, the President signed an Executive Memorandum
directing eight Federal agencies to help sign up millions of uninsured children. Today, the Vice President
announced new steps that agencies are taking in response to that directive. They will:
Launch a new campaign to encourage states to partner with school lunch programs that
serve 15 million children. Today, the Secretary of Agriculture is launching a campaign to
encourage states to use the 94,000 school lunch programs to sign up uninsured children. The
Department will distribute several model free and reduced price lunch application forms that states
and schools may use to link families to state health insurance programs. About 15 million
children, many of whom are uninsured, receive free or reduced-price lunches.
Kick off efforts to educate the 6 million families in low-income housing programs about
health insurance. About 6 million low-income households receive assistance through public
housing or multi-family properties. Later this week, the Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development will send information about the new CHIP program and how to identify and enroll
families eligible for CHIP or Medicaid to: 3,400 Public Housing Authorities; 25,000 owners and
managers of multi-family properties; 72 directors of the Urban Empowerment Zones and
Enterprise Communities; Grantees providing assistance to homeless families; beneficiaries of
Native American Mortgage Loan Program; and parents and community groups working on lead
hazards.
Utilize over 150,000 Treasury employees who work with the Earned Income Tax Credit
(EITC) and other low-income programs to educate families about CHIP and Medicaid.
Today, the Secretary of Treasury is sending 158,000 employees a memorandum encouraging their
participation in efforts to target and enroll children in CHIP and Medicaid. These employees
encounter low-income families, many of whom have uninsured children, in a number of ways.
About 15 million families receive EITC.
Announced the Approval of Three New States Children's Health Insurance Programs and That
Nearly Two-Thirds of States Have Now Been Approved. The Vice President announced that today the
Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services approved three new states -- Delaware, Iowa,
and Kansas -- for CHIP. All of these states have disproportionate numbers of uninsured children in rural
areas. These state programs alone will provide health care coverage for tens of thousands of uninsured
children. With these new approvals, 33 new states and Puerto Rico will have approved plans that expect
to cover over 2 million children when fully implemented.
-
Delaware: The Delaware Healthy Children Program will cover children with family income up to
200 percent of poverty.
Iowa: The "Healthy And Well Kids in Iowa" program (HAWK-I) expands Medicaid to all
children with family income belows 133 percent of poverty.
Kansas: The HealthWave program will ensure that all children with family incomes below 200
percent of poverty are eligible for coverage.
Highlighted the Importance of Medicaid and CHIP Outreach for Children in Rural Areas. The
Vice President praised the Children's Health Fund for its effort to reach children in underserved areas. In
particular, he highlighted the need to improve efforts to reach out to children in rural areas who have
difficulties accessing health care coverage and services. The Vice President:
Underscored that about 2.5 million uninsured children in America live in rural areas.
Children in rural areas have particularly difficult time accessing health care coverage: their
families tend to work in small businesses and agriculture jobs, that usually do not offer health care
coverage, and it is harder for rural families to apply for health insurance programs in person.
Praised State and Federal governments efforts to reach out to uninsured children.
Recognizing the particular challenges for children in rural communities, states that have two-thirds
of these rural uninsured children have already attempted to target many of these children through
already approved CHIP plans. These states plans include outreach initiatives that are targeted to
rural areas, such as enlisting community organizations that come into direct contact with parents of
uninsured children. In addition, in response to the President's directive, the HHS Office of Rural
Health Policy has already sent materials to grantees and many state rural health offices informing
them about how best to target and enroll uninsured children.
Announced Over $1.6 million, to Renew Successful Rural Health Projects in Underserved
Communities. The Vice President announced that this month that HHS will renew projects that reach out
to children in underserved rural areas. These grants, which total over $1.6 million include:
--
A project to improve health services and health education to nearly 30,000 children in an isolated
five county area in northern Idaho.
--
A mobile medical clinic that rotates between four elementary schools in Marshalltown Iowa. The
project is working to create a health status "report card" for each student designed to track and
improve their health status, and a comprehensive primary care and prevention program that serves
over 1,000 children.
A project in Nebraska that provides in-home preventive services for children under five.
--
A North Carolina project to reduce infant mortality, increase childhood immunization, reduce teem
pregnancy, and increase awareness of child abuse and neglect through four Student Health
Centers.
Urged Congress to pass Rural Outreach Initiative in the President's FY 1999 Budget. This initiative
would provide a total of $2 million granted to up to ten rural communities. These communities will use
the money to train local citizens to provide outreach services to residents in hard-to-reach populations
bringing them into the health care system for primary care, preventive services, and acute care.
Elisa Millsap
02/23/99 12:22:08 PM
Record Type:
Record
To:
See the distribution list at the bottom of this message
CC:
Subject: Revised List of Members of Congress Attending Children's Health Event
EVENT:
Children's Health Event
DATE:
Tuesday, February 23, 1999
TIME:
2:30pm-3:10pm
LOCATION:
The East Room
CONFIRMED TO ATTEND:
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA)
Rep. Dianne DeGette (D-CO)
Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY)
Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA)
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)
Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI)
Rep. Albert Wynn (D-MD)
Message Sent To:
ID:2028241414
PAGE 2/3
FEB-22-99 14:24 FROM:NGA WINTER MEETING
Draft
for Governor Leavitt
February 23, 1999- White House
Thank you, Secretary Shalala, for the kind introduction and for your longstanding commitment
to children's health.
Over the past 18 months this country has made amazing strides towards covering kids with the
health insurance they need and our reason for gathering today, to launch the nationwide
Insure Kids Now Hotline and Campaign, is one more step in the right direction towards
INSURING KIDS NOW.
I am pleased to be here on behalf of the nation's Governors and on behalf of the great state of
Utah. Governors across the country have been influential in opening up the doors to health
care coverage for children.
The Insure Kids Now Hotline, 1-877-KIDS- NOW will boost momentum of states, like
Utah and Arkausas, that are working to enroll currently uninsured children into health
insurance programs designed just for kids-a momentum propelled by the nation's
governors.
The 877 number allows parents to make a free phone call that connects them to someone in
their state who will provide information, application forms, and referrals for the State
Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) or Medicaid. Hotline hours have been
extended to accommodate working parents, and most state hotlines provide information in
several languages.
States have engaged in a number of creative ways to inform parents and enroll children into
their programs.
Governor Mike Huckabee personally took on the mission of informing families about the
children's health insurance program in Arkansas, ARKids First. Governor Huckabee has
appeared throughout the state and on television to promote ARKids First and his state has
already enrolled 38,000 children.
Alabama sent out 850,000 application packets to public schoolchildren at the start of the
school year and has already enrolled more than 23,000 children.
New Jersey sends a letter about its programs to the parents of newborns using data from the
vital statistics registry and to all financially eligible families using data from the department
of taxation. The state also includes a flier in the 300,000 registration and license reminders
the division of motor vehicles sends out each month.
The goal of the nation's Governors is to give every eligible child access to the health care
they need-from checkups to immunizations to complicated surgeries. The Insure Kids Now
Hotline will help our children-all our children-grow up with access to the health care they
need to make their lives better.
It is now my pleasure to introduce Governor Thomas Carper, Chair of the National
Governors' Association, from the great state of Delaware.
ID:2028241414
PAGE
FEB-22-99 14:24 FROM:NGA WINTER MEETING
Draft
for Governor Carper
February 23, 1999- White House
Thank you Governor Leavitt.
On behalf of the nation's Governors, and as the Chair for the National Govenors' Association,
I am pleased to be here today, joining with the President, First Lady, and Secretary Shalala to
launch the national Insure Kids Now Hotline and Campaign.
This hotline will help families connect to low-cost or free health insurance for their children.
It will allow many parents to obtain health insurance for their kids for the first time, granting
parents invaluable peace of mind and giving their kids the health care they need to grow up
healthy and strong.
Keeping kids healthy is not just a family concern, it is a community concern. Healthy
children start each day ready to learn, without fear of falling behind in school because of
chronic absence or illness that prevents them from concentrating when they attend. Regular
preventive care helps kids avoid complicated health problems that require expensive
treatment and leave families struggling financially.
I would like to thank the President, First Lady, and Secretary Shalala for their leadership and
collaboration with the Governors and states in bringing the Insure Kids Now Hotline and
Campaign to fruition. Also, I would like to thank Congress for creating the State Children's
Health Insurance Program in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 which has allowed states to
expand eligibility for health coverage for children.
I want to recognize the work of the staff of the NGA Center for Best Practices for their
effort to implement the hotline and for all of the assistance they have provided as states have
developed programs for children. Today I am also pleased to announce the release of 2 NGA
publications which provide vital information to states; the 1998 State Children's Health
Insurance Program Annual Report and a report that highlights state innovations in the use of
hotlines for outreach and enrollment of children for health insurance programs.
The federal-state partnership to expand children's health insurance will give as many as 5
million children access to the health care they need-from checkups to immunizations to
complicated surgeries- through SCHIP and Medicaid.
Families who call 1-877-KIDS-NOW and enroll their kids in a health insurance program can
take comfort in knowing that their children will have access to health care.
It is now my distinct pleasure to introduce to you, the president of the United States, William
Jefferson Clinton. Mr. President, and First Lady Clinton, you have been staunch supporters
of children's health and I am pleased to have the opportunity to work with you on this
campaign.
once aday (2 month
2/23
TURNER (TNT/TES)
FLOTUS PSA ; will
run PBA
ABC start on Friday 2/26
nun on ALL
my CHILDREN
Viscon/
PARAMOUNT march
one PSD
12/2/20
PRESIDENT CLINTON ANNOUNCES A SERIES OF NEW EFFORTS TO ENROLL
UNINSURED CHILDREN IN HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAMS
February 18, 1998
Today, the President is announcing the first major state coverage expansions under the recently enacted
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and released information showing that many States will
soon follow. He also unveiled an unprecedented set of public/private initiatives designed to enroll the
millions of uninsured children who are eligible but not enrolled in Medicaid and other state-based
children's health programs. These initiatives have been designed in partnership with Governors, health
care providers, children's health advocates, foundations, businesses and many others who are committed
to providing health care coverage for the nation's uninsured children.
Over 10 million children in America are uninsured. Nearly 90 percent of these children have parents who
work, but do not have access to or cannot afford health insurance. Over 3 million of these uninsured
children are already eligible for Medicaid. However, many families are not aware that their children are
eligible for Medicaid, and others have difficulty filling out the application. Similar problems could
undermine the new Children's Health Insurance Program's goal to enroll millions of uninsured children.
With these challenges in mind, the President:
ANNOUNCED THAT COLORADO AND SOUTH CAROLINA HAVE JOINED ALABAMA
AS THE FIRST COVERAGE EXPANSIONS UNDER THE NEW CHILDREN'S HEALTH
INSURANCE PROGRAM (CHIP). Today, the President is announcing that Colorado and South
Carolina join Alabama as the first states to come into the children's health program. In late January,
Alabama received approval to expand its Medicaid program to children ages 14 to 18 up to 100
percent of poverty. South Carolina will expand its Medicaid program to provide coverage to all
children up to 150 percent of poverty. And, Colorado builds upon its current non-Medicaid program
to cover children up to 185 percent of poverty. The President is also announcing that many more
States are well on their way to expanding coverage to more uninsured children. Currently, 14
additional states have submitted plans to HHS for approval, and nearly 30 States are actively planning
new ways to address the needs of uninsured children.
RELEASED A NEW PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE TO LAUNCH A GOVERNMENT-WIDE
EFFORT TO ENROLL UNINSURED CHILDREN. In an executive memorandum to eight
Federal agencies with jurisdiction over children's programs - the Departments of Agriculture,
Interior, Education, HHS, HUD, Interior, Labor, and Treasury and the Social Security Administration
-- the President is directing the establishment of a multi-agency effort to enroll uninsured children.
These agencies run programs such as WIC, Food Stamps, Head Start, and public housing that cover
many of the same children who are uninsured and eligible for Medicaid or other health insurance. The
memorandum instructs these agencies: (1) to identify all their employees and grantees who might
come into contact with these children and ensure that these individuals are aware of the health
insurance programs available to children; (2) to develop an intensive children's outreach initiative,
such as distributing information, coordinating toll-free numbers, and simplifying and coordinating
application forms; and (3) to report back in 90 days on their plan to help enroll uninsured children.
HIGHLIGHTED BUDGET PROPOSALS THAT PROVIDE MEDICAID ENROLLMENT
INCENTIVES TO STATES. The President's FY 1999 budget invests $900 million over 5 years in
children's health outreach policies, including the use of schools and child care centers to enroll
children in Medicaid. The budget provides states with the option of automatically enrolling children
in Medicaid even before having received all of the complicated eligibility and enrollment forms (a
provision known as "presumptive eligibility"). It also expands the use of a Federally-financed
administrative fund so that it can underwrite the costs for all uninsured children - not just the limited
population allowed under current law.
ANNOUNCED A HISTORIC PRIVATE SECTOR COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE
OUTREACH. To complement the public outreach effort, the President is announcing unprecedented
new contributions from the private sector to help ensure that all children who are eligible for health
insurance receive it, including:
-
A new toll-free number that directs families around the nation to their state enrollment
centers. The President is announcing that Bell Atlantic will establish and operate a toll-free
number to help states enroll uninsured children. The number, which will be put in place during the
upcoming months, will be developed in cooperation with the nation's Governors. This will help
millions of families around the nation by directing them automatically to their local state Medicaid
enrollment agency.
- Over $23 million in commitments from private foundations across the country. The Robert
Wood Johnson Foundation will spend $13 million over the next 3 years to fund innovative state-
local coalitions to design and conduct outreach initiatives, simplify enrollment processes, and
coordinate existing coverage programs. The Kaiser Family Foundation will spend up to $10
million over the next 5 years on studies to help understand why eligible children do not enroll in
existing programs and how best to provide insurance coverage for these children. America's
Promise, with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and in collaboration with the
American Academy of Pediatrics, will mobilize corporations such as SmithKline Beecham and
Schering Plough and local communities nationwide in children's health outreach efforts.
- New initiatives from corporate and advocacy organizations to reach out to uninsured
children. Pampers has volunteered to include a letter in its child birth education packages, given
to 90 percent of first-time mothers, providing families information about available health
insurance options. Grocery stores and chain drug stores across the country will provide
information about the new Bell Atlantic toll-free number to their customers. The National
Education Association is launching an unprecedented effort to educate teachers on how they can
inform children and their families about health insurance, through national newsletters,
conferences, and special training sessions. The American Hospital Association's Campaign for
Coverage will increase its nationwide initiative to engage hospitals in helping uninsured
Americans, including children.
ISSUED A CHALLENGE ACROSS AMERICA TO FIND NEW WAYS TO REACH OUT TO
UNINSURED CHILDREN. The President is challenging every physician, nurse, health care
provider, business, school, parent, grandparent, and community across the nation, to find new ways to
ensure that uninsured children eligible for health insurance are enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP. This
national commitment should not stop until every eligible child across the country is enrolled in one of
the existing health care programs.
PRESIDENT'S CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE OUTREACH
EXECUTIVE MEMORANDUM AND INTERAGENCY REPORT
June 22, 1998
Today, in an Executive Memorandum, the President ordered eight Federal agencies to enact over
150 initiatives designed to help enroll millions of uninsured children in Medicaid or the new
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). These initiatives are included in a report to the
President that is also being released today. This report and the recommendations were produced by
the Departments of Health and Human Services, Treasury, Agriculture, Education, Labor, Housing
and Urban Development, Interior, and the Social Security Administration.
Taken together, these actions represent an unprecedented, cross-government commitment to provide
affordable insurance to children. The American Academy of Pediatrics characterized these
initiatives as "representing the best of creative government and absolutely critical to achieving our
common goal of providing health insurance for all eligible children."
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE REPORT. As the first step in his public-private children's health
outreach campaign, the President directed his own workforce to initiate an historic commitment to
enrolling uninsured children in State health insurance programs. In response, eight Federal agencies
developed plans in three areas: how to educate their workforce; how this workforce can help
educate families about State health insurance programs; and how to coordinate cross-agency and
public-private efforts to identify and enroll children in these programs.
Educating Federal Workers, State Workers, and Grantees about Children's Health
Many Federal and State workers, contractors or grantees have direct contact with families with
uninsured children. For example, the majority of uninsured children probably have participated in a
school lunch program, subsidized child care, or Head Start. Recognizing this fact, the President
ordered the Federal agencies to, among other actions:
Send letters from the Cabinet Secretaries to about 350,000 Federal workers, describing this
children's health outreach initiative and strongly encouraging them to help enroll uninsured
children.
Train the staff of Federal / State information clearinghouses, technical assistance centers,
providers, and eligibility workers about children's health. Targets include:
-
National Health Service Corps and Area Health Education Centers that train about 21,000
students and 50,000 providers;
-
The Education Department's 40 parent assistance programs and 312 community learning
centers serving over 50,000 students and community residents; and
-
Regional and State coordinators for 1,800 State Employment Security Agencies that provide
job placement, counseling, and labor market information to job seekers.
Educating Families. Many Federal workers and grantees determine eligibility, counsel families,
and provide services in non-health programs. This gives them an opportunity to educate families
and assist them in enrolling children in Medicaid or CHIP. The agencies have proposed to:
Distribute information on options and/or applications to families at:
-
700 community health centers;
-
1,400 Head Start, State Child Support and TANF sites;
-
400 IRS Walk-In Centers and 8,600 Voluntary Income Tax Assistance sites;
-
1,300 Social Security Administration field offices;
-
3,000 employers, schools, education organizations, and community and religious groups that
comprise the Education Department's Partnership for Family Involvement program;
-
185 Federally operated and Tribally contracted schools, 24 reservation-based community
colleges, and over 500 Indian Child Welfare programs;
-
15,000 public housing projects and 81 field offices and information sites; and
-
113 Job Corps Centers and 700 One-Stop Career Centers.
Coordinating Efforts Across Agencies and with the Private Sector. Efforts to enroll uninsured
children will be more effective if coordinated. To facilitate coordination, agencies will:
Link Internet sites, to provide both Federal workers and families using various sites, with links
to children's health insurance outreach site. (e.g., America's Job Bank site, used by millions)
Coordinate outreach campaign with major national associations, advocacy groups, and
other private organizations. Each Department has a set of outside organizations that could be
partners in this outreach initiative. These include:
- Elderly groups, to assist in enrolling uninsured grandchildren;
-
Historically Black Colleges and Universities, to develop strategies for minority children;
-
Earned Income Tax Credit outreach organizations, which target similar families; and
- National Education Association, to focus on school-based approaches.
Cross-Cutting Issues. Two topics were special focuses of the task force.
Vulnerable children. Many children eligible for Medicaid or CHIP are difficult to reach
because of sociocultural and linguistic differences, low literacy levels, geographic isolation,
homelessness, or transient living situations that make it difficult for them to enroll in health
insurance. A number of activities are proposed to address these unique problems, including:
-
Use of mapping to identify all service delivery sites on reservations that could be used for
children's health outreach to Indian families;
- Media campaign for Hispanic children to identify barriers to enrollment and Spanish
language material; and
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Use of "distance learning," such as new telemedicine communication capabilities, to educate
rural providers about children's health insurance.
Coordinating program enrollment. Integration of health and non-health program enrollment
can increase the number of children with insurance. Models identified include:
-
Single application for multiple programs: Most States (e.g., Illinois, Iowa, Maryland,
Michigan, Ohio) use joint applications for their social services programs.
-
"Adjunctive" eligibility (allowing eligibility for one program to fulfil some or all of the
eligibility requirements for another): for example, children are automatically eligible for
Florida's Healthy Start program if eligible for the school lunch program.
Full Report Available at www.hcfa.gov
VICE PRESIDENT GORE UNVEILS NEW EFFORTS TO TARGET AND ENROLL
UNINSURED CHILDREN, ANNOUNCES THREE STATE CHILDREN'S HEALTH
INSURANCE PROGRAM APPROVALS AND HIGHLIGHTS THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES
RURAL COMMUNITIES FACE IN INSURING CHILDREN
September 1, 1998
Today, the Vice President joins the Children's Health Fund in kicking off a new public/private effort to
reach out and enroll uninsured children across the nation. At this event, the Vice President hosted the
National Child Health Caravan on its multi-state tour to promote children's outreach; unveiled major new
children's health outreach and enrollment efforts from multiple departments within the Federal
government; announced three state children's health insurance program (CHIP) approvals; and
highlighted the special challenges that rural states face in targeting and covering uninsured children.
There are over four million children who are currently eligible but not enrolled in Medicaid and there
could be hundreds of thousands more children eligible and not signed up as states implement CHIP.
Recent studies have shown that uninsured children are more likely to be sick as newborns; less likely to
be immunized; and less likely to receive treatment for recurring illnesses, like ear infections or asthma.
The Vice President also highlighted the particular challenges in enrolling children in rural areas, where
2.5 million of the nation's uninsured children live. Today, the Vice President:
Highlighted National Child Health Caravan. The Vice President hosted the National Child Health
Caravan, on a multi-state journey to reach out to and enroll uninsured children and to call attention to the
needs of medically underserved children. The Caravan will deliver new mobile units that provide a range
of health services for children in medically underserved areas.
Announced New Initiatives to Identify and Enroll Uninsured Children. In response to the public-
private outreach initiative the President and First Lady announced earlier this year, pharmacies, grocery
stores, and other private companies are launching efforts to reach out to families with uninsured children.
In June, at the Vice President's Family Conference, the President signed an Executive Memorandum
directing eight Federal agencies to help sign up millions of uninsured children. Today, the Vice President
announced new steps that agencies are taking in response to that directive. They will:
Launch a new campaign to encourage states to partner with school lunch programs that
serve 15 million children. Today, the Secretary of Agriculture is launching a campaign to
encourage states to use the 94,000 school lunch programs to sign up uninsured children. The
Department will distribute several model free and reduced price lunch application forms that states
and schools may use to link families to state health insurance programs. About 15 million
children, many of whom are uninsured, receive free or reduced-price lunches.
Kick off efforts to educate the 6 million families in low-income housing programs about
health insurance. About 6 million low-income households receive assistance through public
housing or multi-family properties. Later this week, the Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development will send information about the new CHIP program and how to identify and enroll
families eligible for CHIP or Medicaid to: 3,400 Public Housing Authorities; 25,000 owners and
managers of multi-family properties; 72 directors of the Urban Empowerment Zones and
Enterprise Communities; Grantees providing assistance to homeless families; beneficiaries of
Native American Mortgage Loan Program; and parents and community groups working on lead
hazards.
Utilize over 150,000 Treasury employees who work with the Earned Income Tax Credit
(EITC) and other low-income programs to educate families about CHIP and Medicaid.
Today, the Secretary of Treasury is sending 158,000 employees a memorandum encouraging their
participation in efforts to target and enroll children in CHIP and Medicaid. These employees
encounter low-income families, many of whom have uninsured children, in a number of ways.
About 15 million families receive EITC.
Announced the Approval of Three New States Children's Health Insurance Programs and That
Nearly Two-Thirds of States Have Now Been Approved. The Vice President announced that today the
Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services approved three new states -- Delaware, Iowa,
and Kansas -- for CHIP. All of these states have disproportionate numbers of uninsured children in rural
areas. These state programs alone will provide health care coverage for tens of thousands of uninsured
children. With these new approvals, 33 new states and Puerto Rico will have approved plans that expect
to cover over 2 million children when fully implemented.
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Delaware: The Delaware Healthy Children Program will cover children with family income up to
200 percent of poverty.
Iowa: The "Healthy And Well Kids in lowa" program (HAWK-I) expands Medicaid to all
children with family income belows 133 percent of poverty.
Kansas: The Health Wave program will ensure that all children with family incomes below 200
percent of poverty are eligible for coverage.
Highlighted the Importance of Medicaid and CHIP Outreach for Children in Rural Areas. The
Vice President praised the Children's Health Fund for its effort to reach children in underserved areas. In
particular, he highlighted the need to improve efforts to reach out to children in rural areas who have
difficulties accessing health care coverage and services. The Vice President:
Underscored that about 2.5 million uninsured children in America live in rural areas.
Children in rural areas have particularly difficult time accessing health care coverage: their
families tend to work in small businesses and agriculture jobs, that usually do not offer health care
coverage, and it is harder for rural families to apply for health insurance programs in person.
Praised State and Federal governments efforts to reach out to uninsured children.
Recognizing the particular challenges for children in rural communities, states that have two-thirds
of these rural uninsured children have already attempted to target many of these children through
already approved CHIP plans. These states plans include outreach initiatives that are targeted to
rural areas, such as enlisting community organizations that come into direct contact with parents of
uninsured children. In addition, in response to the President's directive, the HHS Office of Rural
Health Policy has already sent materials to grantees and many state rural health offices informing
them about how best to target and enroll uninsured children.
Announced Over $1.6 million, to Renew Successful Rural Health Projects in Underserved
Communities. The Vice President announced that this month that HHS will renew projects that reach out
to children in underserved rural areas. These grants, which total over $1.6 million include:
A project to improve health services and health education to nearly 30,000 children in an isolated
five county area in northern Idaho.
--
A mobile medical clinic that rotates between four elementary schools in Marshalltown Iowa. The
project is working to create a health status "report card" for each student designed to track and
improve their health status, and a comprehensive primary care and prevention program that serves
over 1,000 children.
A project in Nebraska that provides in-home preventive services for children under five.
A North Carolina project to reduce infant mortality, increase childhood immunization, reduce teem
pregnancy, and increase awareness of child abuse and neglect through four Student Health
Centers.
Urged Congress to pass Rural Outreach Initiative in the President's FY 1999 Budget. This initiative
would provide a total of $2 million granted to up to ten rural communities. These communities will use
the money to train local citizens to provide outreach services to residents in hard-to-reach populations
bringing them into the health care system for primary care, preventive services, and acute care.
Elisa Millsap
02/23/99 12:22:08 PM
Record Type:
Record
To:
See the distribution list at the bottom of this message
CC:
Subject: Revised List of Members of Congress Attending Children's Health Event
EVENT:
Children's Health Event
DATE:
Tuesday, February 23, 1999
TIME:
2:30pm-3:10pm
LOCATION:
The East Room
CONFIRMED TO ATTEND:
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA)
Rep. Dianne DeGette (D-CO)
Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY)
Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA)
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)
Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI)
Rep. Albert Wynn (D-MD)
Message Sent To:
I
Thank you Mrs. Clinton.
President Clinton, Mrs. Clinton, Governors Leavitt and Carper,
distinguished guests.
George Will once wrote, "we are given children to test us and
make us more spiritual."
It's true that playful children laughing, hiding and refusing to go
to bed - do test us. Sometimes to the point where a spiritual - and
spirited - discussion with our maker seems in order.
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Children being children is a test all parents face - and learn to
love.
But there's another test that tries the spirit of millions of working
parents - and that's the test of a sick child with no health insurance.
Parents should not have to rely just on prayers when their
children fall ill.
They should be able to rely on high quality medical care too.
As Mrs. Clinton said, that's what our Children's Health
Insurance Program is all about.
3
CHIP is a 24 billion dollar investment over five years in the one
national treasure we can least afford to lose - our children.
CHIP is not a welfare program,
it is a serious investment in the health of our future workforce.
It is an investment in working families.
CHIP is a matter of pure self-interest. We all win when we keep
our children healthy and our future economy strong.
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In just 16 short months - working with Governors and members
of Congress from both parties - the Department of Health and Human
Services has approved CHIP plans in 50 states and territories.
Under these plans, states expect to enroll by late next year 2.5
million children.
But CHIP is a little like a new restaurant. The tables and waiters
are in place. The doors are open. The customers are coming in. But we
still have empty tables to fill.
That means outreach.
And, frankly, it means building on the important steps we've
already taken to give parents the information - and peace of mind -
they need to protect their children.
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Last February, President Clinton created an interagency task
force made up of the federal departments and agencies that serve
children.
His charge was unambiguous: Come up with new ways to find
uninsured children - and sign them up.
That's exactly what the federal government has done.
Agriculture is reaching families through the Food Stamp
program.
Education is reaching families through the schools.
Housing and Urban Development is reaching families through
public housing.
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Together, the members of the Task Force began over 150
outreach activities last year.
As for HHS,
from training grantees, to meeting with State Medicaid
Directors, to enlisting the help of grandparents - we've helped lay the
foundation for the national campaign President Clinton will be
announcing today.
Last fall, we teamed up with the National Governors Association
to create a regional radio campaign to reach parents about CHIP.
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We've designed posters, bumper stickers and an easy-to-use kit
that our partners in both the public and private sectors can use to teach
their members how to find and enroll CHIP-eligible children.
now
And just today, we started a new web site - www.insurckids.gov -
1
that is filled with important information about CHIP eligibility - and
where to sign up. All on a state by state basis.
Our goal now is to find the parents of CHIP-eligible children and
tell them about the program.
to
Then our goal now is get every last one of these children enrolled.
A
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I mentioned that CHIP has been a strong bi-partisan effort.
In particular, governors and the NGA have stood with us - and
worked with us - from day one.
One of those governors is so committed to this program, he agreed
to spend some time away from his 9 and 1, first place, Utah Jazz so he
could be here with us to talk about CHIP.
It is my pleasure to introduce, Governor Michael Leavitt of Utah
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for Governor Leavitt
February 23, 1999- White House
Thank you, Secretary Shalala, for the kind introduction and for your longstanding commitment
to children's health.
Over the past 18 months this country has made amazing strides towards covering kids with the
health insurance they need and our reason for gathering today, to launch the nationwide
Insure Kids Now Hotline and Campaign, is one more step in the right direction towards
INSURING KIDS NOW.
I am pleased to be here on behalf of the nation's Governors and on behalf of the great state of
Utah. Governors across the country have been influential in opening up the doors to health
care coverage for children.
The Insure Kids Now Hotline, 1-877-KIDS- NOW will boost momentum of states, like
Utah and Arkansas, that are working to enroll currently uninsured children into health
insurance programs designed just for kids-a momentum propelled by the nation's
governors.
The 877 number allows parents to make a free phone call that connects them to someone in
their state who will provide information, application forms, and referrals for the State
Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) or Medicaid. Hotline hours have been
extended to accommodate working parents, and most state hotlines provide information in
several languages.
States have engaged in a number of creative ways to inform parents and enroll children into
their programs.
Governor Mike Huckabee personally took on the mission of informing families about the
children's health insurance program in Arkansas, ARKids First. Governor Huckabee has
appeared throughout the state and on television to promote ARKids First and his state has
already enrolled 38,000 children.
Alabama sent out 850,000 application packets to public schoolchildren at the start of the
school year and has already enrolled more than 23,000 children.
New Jersey sends a letter about its programs to the parents of newborns using data from the
vital statistics registry and to all financially eligible families using data from the department
of taxation. The state also includes a flier in the 300,000 registration and license reminders
the division of motor vehicles sends out each month.
The goal of the nation's Governors is to give every eligible child access to the health care
they need-from checkups to immunizations to complicated surgeries. The Insure Kids Now
Hotline will help our children-all our children-grow up with access to the health care they
need to make their lives better.
It is now my pleasure to introduce Governor Thomas Carper, Chair of the National
Governors' Association, from the great state of Delaware.
WINIER MEETING
Draft
for Governor Carper
February 23, 1999- White House
Thank you Governor Leavitt.
On behalf of the nation's Governors, and as the Chair for the National Govenors' Association,
I am pleased to be here today, joining with the President, First Lady, and Secretary Shalala to
launch the national Insure Kids Now Hotline and Campaign.
This hotline will help families connect to low-cost or free health insurance for their children.
It will allow many parents to obtain health insurance for their kids for the first time, granting
parents invaluable peace of mind and giving their kids the health care they need to grow up
healthy and strong.
Keeping kids healthy is not just a family concern, it is a community concern. Healthy
children start each day ready to learn, without fear of falling behind in school because of
chronic absence or illness that prevents them from concentrating when they attend. Regular
preventive care helps kids avoid complicated health problems that require expensive
treatment and leave families struggling financially.
I would like to thank the President, First Lady, and Secretary Shalala for their leadership and
collaboration with the Governors and states in bringing the Insure Kids Now Hotline and
Campaign to fruition. Also, 1 would like to thank Congress for creating the State Children's
Health Insurance Program in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 which has allowed states to
expand eligibility for health coverage for children.
I want to recognize the work of the staff of the NGA Center for Best Practices for their
effort to implement the hotline and for all of the assistance they have provided as states have
developed programs for children. Today I am also pleased to announce the release of 2 NGA
publications which provide vital information to states; the 1998 State Children's Health
Insurance Program Annual Report and a report that highlights state innovations in the use of
hotlines for outreach and enrollment of children for health insurance programs.
The federal-state partnership to expand children's health insurance will give as many as 5
million children access to the health care they need-from checkups to immunizations to
complicated surgeries- through SCHIP and Medicaid.
Families who call 1-877-KIDS-NOW and enroll their kids in a health insurance program can
take comfort in knowing that their children will have access to health care.
It is now my distinct pleasure to introduce to you, the president of the United States, William
Jefferson Clinton. Mr. President, and First Lady Clinton, you have been staunch supporters
of children's health and I am pleased to have the opportunity to work with you on this
campaign.