[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 72 (Wednesday, May 14, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E948]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE COVERAGE OF CHILDHOOD IMMUNIZATION ACT OF 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GENE GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 14, 2003

  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the 
Comprehensive Insurance Coverage of Childhood Immunizations Act of 
2003. This important legislation will improve our nation's efforts to 
immunize all children against vaccine-preventable diseases.
  Vaccines have made dramatic improvements in the lives of children and 
adults in the last century. Scourges such as polio and small pox have 
been eradicated thanks to advancements in vaccine research.
  Childhood vaccinations prevent nine serious infectious diseases. 
Thanks to immunizations, children no longer have to suffer from the 
dangers of polio, measles, diptheria, mumps, pertussis (whooping 
cough), rubella (German measels), tetanus, hepatitis-B, or Hib (the 
most common cause of meningitis).
  Immunizations are not only sound medicine, they're sound public 
health policy. More than $21 is saved for every dollar spent on the 
measles/mumps/rubella vaccine. Almost $30 is saved for every dollar 
spent on diptheria/tetanus/pertussis vaccine.
  Unfortunately, many children do not have access to these life-saving 
vaccines. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC), nationwide vaccination coverage levels decreased from 73.2 
percent in 1999 to 72.8 percent in the year 2000. In fact, one third of 
two-year-old children are under-immunized, and in some cities and urban 
areas, more than 50 percent of children are not fully immunized.
  Part of the problem is that health insurance coverage of immunization 
is spotty at best. According to the Institute of Medicine Report 
``Calling the Shots,'' private health insurance immunization coverage 
varies widely by type of plan as well as by vaccine. Enrollment in a 
private plan does not guarantee that immunizations will be provided.
  Although 28 states have enacted legislation that would require 
private plans to cover immunizations, plans governed by ERISA are not 
subject to these requirements. The IOM Report recommends that all 
health insurance plans, including ERISA self-insured plans, should 
offer first-dollar coverage for childhood vaccines recommended in the 
harmonized immunization schedule.
  The Comprehensive Insurance Coverage of Childhood Immunization Act of 
2003 would addresses this problem by requiring ERISA governed health 
plans and plans covered by the Public Health Services Act to cover 
vaccines for children under 18 years. Vaccines recommended by the 
Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Recommended Childhood 
Immunization Schedule must be covered.
  The federal government provides this benefit for its own workers, and 
twenty-eight states have enacted laws to require state-regulated plans 
to cover vaccines. Unfortunately, ERISA plans do not have to comply 
with state laws. This legislation will ensure that all children, 
regardless of the type of insurance they have, will receive life-saving 
vaccines. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting immunization 
coverage for all children.

                          ____________________