Whereas, the Washington State Public Health Association believes that every child in the state of Washington should have health coverage and access to health care;

Whereas, children with health coverage have better health status because they are more likely to be fully immunized, get the preventive care children need, have a medical home, and get care earlier in an illness;

Whereas, healthy children are better prepared to learn and focus on school;

Whereas, health coverage for children provides essential economic support for low-income families to allow them to remain employed and move towards self-sufficiency;

Whereas, as the cost of employer provided health coverage increases and the availability of dependent coverage decreases, subsidized coverage is becoming increasingly necessary to provide affordable health coverage to children in low-wage families;

Whereas, children with special health care needs are particularly at risk when uninsured, as their medical bills can be devastating for their families and preventive and stabilizing care is essential for their growth and development;

Whereas, Washington State has historically been a national leader in assuring health coverage for its low-income residents, particularly children;

Whereas, Washington is working to cover all children currently eligible for Medicaid through new and innovative outreach strategies and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) could supplement and benefit from this outreach;

Whereas, the Children’s Health Insurance Program can offer coverage to the increasingly growing number of children caught in the gap between public and private health coverage;

Whereas, States are being offered a unique opportunity through the Children’s Health Insurance Program to obtain federal funding to expand health coverage for children of working families;

Therefore, the Washington State Public Health Association urges the Governor and the Washington State Legislature to enact a Washington Children’s Health Insurance Program that:

• uses federal funds to expand health coverage to children; and
• includes a benefit package adequate for meeting the needs of all children, including children with special health care needs.

Adopted by the vote of the Membership assembled at the 1998 Annual Business meeting of the Association, October 5, 1998 in Yakima, Washington.

Signed by: George Hilton, WSPHA President