AMCNO Applauds New Law Providing Health Insurance Coverage for more Children – sends letter to Congressional representatives

A new law that extends health care coverage to more American children was signed by President Barack Obama this month. The bill reauthorizes the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) through 2013 and is expected to increase enrollment in SCHIP by 5.7 million people. The new law will enable states to extend health care coverage to more children whose parents cannot afford it but earn too much to qualify for Medicaid. Costs of the program will be offset by an increase in the federal tobacco tax. And the new law does not include any restrictions on physician ownership of hospitals. The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease and the AMCNO have sent a congratulatory letter to Ohio’s Congressional representatives thanking them for their support of this important legislation.