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	Summary of the Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007
	National Association of State Medicaid Directors Summary

Bush Administration Denies Health Care to 35,000 Ohio Children

On December 20th, the Bush Administration denied 35,000 Ohio children the health care they need.

In a letter sent after the end of the business day on Thursday, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services denied Ohio's plan to expand coverage to children living in families with incomes between 200%-300% of the federal poverty level.

"Ohio's bipartisan leaders know that Ohio's kids need health coverage, and that's why they approved this expansion in the fiscal year 2008-2009 state budget. This ruling from Washington means that the Bush Administration has turned its back not only on Ohio children, but also on Ohio's elected leaders and our state's democratic process," said Amy Swanson, executive director of Voices for Ohio's Children. "We applaud the Governor's continued efforts to provide Ohio kids with health care, even in the face of these federal barriers."

"When Congress returns to Washington in January, we need its members to fix this problem by passing a moratorium on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services guidelines and overriding the President's second veto of the State Children's Health Insurance Plan (SCHIP)," continued Swanson.

"Let's hope, too, that the President decides to make the health of our nation's children a higher priority than his mean-spirited political gamesmanship."

Voices for Ohio's Children is a non-partisan voice of Ohio's nearly 3 million children. With more than 100 collaborative partners, we advance changes in public policy that improve the health, safety, education, family stability and childcare of all Ohio children and their families.

Amy Nicholls Swanson
Executive Director
330-472-4350
aswanson@vfc-oh.org