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Voices Applauds Governor Strickland's Support of Ohio's Children

Poverty Task Force Recommendations, Children’s Health Coverage Budget are Priorities

September 10, 2008—Economic reports continue to deliver hard news to Ohioans, but this week, children who need health coverage received much needed support from Columbus.

On Tuesday, the Ohio Anti-Poverty Task Force issued recommendations to ensure that Ohio is doing all that it can to move more people from poverty to self-sufficiency. Among these recommendations are a variety of measures that will cut red tape that keeps as many as 106,000 Ohio children uninsured.

“About two-thirds of Ohio’s uninsured children are already eligible for public health coverage,” said Voices for Ohio’s Children Executive Director Amy Swanson. “The Anti-Poverty Task Force recommendations will eliminate the red tape that keeps those children from getting insured and staying insured, and also costs Ohio’s taxpayers and managed care companies money. We applaud the Governor’s leadership on simplifying children’s coverage and urge that the Task Force recommendations be implemented as soon as possible.”

Then, on Wednesday, Governor Strickland held the 2007 children’s health coverage expansions harmless from more than $540 million in budget adjustments. The expansions, which would extend public coverage to many children living in families with incomes between 200%-300% of the federal poverty level, are poised for implementation once federal administrative roadblocks are removed.

“In these tough economic times, Ohio’s children and families need help covering the high cost of health care,” said Swanson. “Governor Strickland has made sure that help will be there now and in the future. What’s more, keeping kids healthy now is an investment in Ohio’s future workforce and strong economy.

“Now it’s time for Ohio’s communities to get children enrolled in available health coverage and keep them enrolled. Together we can help our state’s children and families weather these tough economic times.”

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. To learn more about Voices for Ohio’s Children, please visit www.vfc-oh.org.

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