[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 95 (Wednesday, July 19, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1456]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF THE ``PROTECTING CHILDREN'S HEALTH IN SCHOOLS ACT OF 
                                 2006''

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN D. DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 19, 2006

  Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, helping children learn and be successful in 
life should be a priority for us. It is unfortunate the Bush 
administration does not agree. This bill, the ``Protecting Children's 
Health in Schools Act of 2006'', will stop the harmful Medicaid cuts 
proposed by the President so that disabled children can continue 
receiving the medical services they need in order to continue to learn 
in school. Without this bill, the administration's actions are placing 
children's health and education in jeopardy by leaving the brunt of the 
burden on already stretched State education systems.
  Since 1986 Federal Medicaid policy has explicitly recognized the 
essential nature of the link between Medicaid and health care for low-
income children whose special healthcare needs make management of and 
access to treatment in school settings an imperative. Recent actions by 
the administration, however, including audits and proposed regulatory 
cuts in payments to schools for providing healthcare services in the 
President's FY2007 budget, have created an atmosphere of uncertainty 
about the continued ability of children with serious and chronic health 
conditions to get the health care they need that will allow them to 
attend school in mainstream, community settings.
  Rather than discouraging the provision of health care in schools, the 
administration should be providing extensive technical assistance to 
States to optimize children's opportunities to receive needed school-
based health care. This would enable them to learn in community 
educational settings instead of being forced to remain at home, which 
is fully permitted under the current law. Close to 7 million children 
currently receive education and related services through school 
districts ranging from assistive technology for students with hearing 
disabilities to personal aides for students with several developmental 
or physical disabilities. These services are determined, based on a 
student's medical needs, to be necessary for the ``appropriate'' 
education of that student.
  This bill I am introducing with Representatives Whitfield, Miller, 
and many others, would set forward clear guidelines in the statute for 
providing and receiving reimbursement for this care, rather than put 
schools, families, and their disabled children, and States in a 
situation where they are uncertain whether or not these medically-
necessary services and the related administrative and transportation 
costs will be covered under Medicaid. This legislation has the support 
of the American Association of School Administrators, the American 
Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association, the 
National Rural Education Advocacy Coalition, the Council of Great City 
Schools, and the National Association of State Directors of Special 
Education, among other organizations.
  The administration's current moves and proposed budget cuts 
curtailing Medicaid coverage and provision of health services in 
schools endanger the health and educational opportunities for 7 million 
children. This bill, in essence, maintains and protects current law 
coverage for children with special needs.

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