It’s always encouraging to see Maine’s elected officials leading the nation. Our entire congressional delegation is now on record as providing leadership and voting for children.
Last Wednesday, it was Rep. Tom Allen’s turn. Thirteen thousand Maine children got closer to keeping their low-cost health insurance when the House passed legislation that will extend the State Children’s Health Insurance Program for five years. Allen, who sits on the committee that drafted the bill, helped shape critical provisions.
Thanks in part to his leadership, the House bill will cover 5 million children by 2012 (compared to 3 million in the Senate bill). The bill secures coverage of 14,800 children currently enrolled in Maine’s program and provides funding for the state to reach the 11,000 children below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Just as important, the bill gives states a range of outreach options so states can find and enroll those children.
In addition, Allen worked to include dental coverage in the bill. As the tragic death of a child in Maryland from an untreated abscess recently made all too clear, dental care is a critical component of good preventive health care.
On behalf of the Maine Children’s Alliance, I want to thank Allen for ensuring that Maine’s children get the care they need.
John Rosser
Chairman Maine Children’s Alliance
Augusta
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