S-CHIP Veto Affects 68,000 South Dakota Kids

Posted on Friday, December 14, 2007

The health of South Dakota kids is again caught in the crosshairs of a major disagreement between the President and Congress. A third version of the bill to reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program fell victim to another veto by President Bush this week, and now children’s advocacy groups are hopeful Congress will take immediate action to continue coverage at current levels. Bruce Lesley with the bi-partisan group First Focus says states like South Dakota are running out of money and coverage for low-income kids is in serious jeopardy.

Lesley says that states are dependent on federal support for maintaining the children’s health program and that at least 9 states could run completely out of funds by March. He says South Dakota is also a state at risk.

Lesley says S-CHIP serves over 6 million low-income children across the nation and has reduced the number of kids who are uninsured by a third. The program helped more than 68,000 South Dakota kids under age 18 last year.