[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 14212]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 170--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT CHILDREN 
SHOULD BENEFIT, AND IN NO CASE BE WORSE OFF, AS A RESULT, OF REFORM OF 
                     THE NATIONS HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

  Mr. CASEY (for himself, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Brown, Mr. Whitehouse, and Mr. 
Sanders) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Finance:

                              S. Res. 170

       Whereas Medicaid is a cornerstone of the Nation's health 
     care infrastructure, providing critical health coverage to 
     Americans who have the greatest needs: children and adults 
     whose financial means are very modest and people who are in 
     poorer health compared to the population at-large, including 
     individuals with significant disabilities and those with 
     multiple chronic illnesses;
       Whereas Medicaid provides health coverage to \1/4\ of the 
     Nation's children and more than \1/2\ of all low-income 
     children;
       Whereas because minority children are more likely to be 
     from low-income families, Medicaid has been shown to reduce 
     racial and ethnic disparities in health care, as it provides 
     coverage for 2 out of every 5 African-American and Hispanic 
     children;
       Whereas by limiting cost-sharing and premiums, Medicaid 
     provides a comprehensive benefit package and ensures that 
     children have access to affordable coverage and the health 
     care services they need to stay healthy and meet 
     developmental milestones;
       Whereas Medicaid is designed to meet the complex health 
     care needs of low-income and special needs children by 
     including a wide range of essential and comprehensive 
     services that many private insurers do not cover;
       Whereas Medicaid provides developmental assessments for 
     infants and young children (including well-child visits, 
     vision and hearing services, and access to a wide range of 
     therapies to manage developmental disorders and chronic 
     illnesses) and coverage for in-home support, long-term care 
     for special needs children, and transportation services;
       Whereas Medicaid provides a care coordination benefit that 
     supports at-risk children by coordinating State health 
     services, thereby furthering the ability of States to 
     effectively coordinate medical and social services that are 
     provided by multiple organizations and agencies;
       Whereas administrative spending is lower in Medicaid than 
     through private insurance;
       Whereas Medicaid is critical for ensuring that children 
     have access to safety-net providers in their local 
     communities and for training health care professionals, 
     including pediatricians; and
       Whereas Medicaid provides low-income children with the full 
     complement of services they need to meet their unique health 
     and developmental needs: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) Congress should ensure that reform of our Nation's 
     health care system shall benefit all children and that no 
     child shall be worse off, particularly the most vulnerable 
     low-income children and children with disabilities; and
       (2) strengthening our Nation's Medicaid program should be a 
     priority and that low-income children should not be moved 
     into a health care exchange system that could disrupt and 
     diminish their benefits, cost-sharing protections, 
     availability of care standards and protections, and access to 
     supports, services, and safety-net providers.

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