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September 24, 2007
deJongh seeks Congressional support for full-fledged Children's Health Insurance Program in the Virgin Islands Gov. John P. deJongh Jr. has written members of Congress seeking support of an initiative that would establish the State Children’s Health Insurance (SCHIP) Program for both qualified uninsured and underinsured children in the Virgin Islands. "Although the Virgin Islands has received approximately $1.2 million in SCHIP funding in FY2007, the amount is only a fraction of the amount needed to support a meaningful SCHIP program in the territory," deJongh wrote in the September 17th correspondence. There are presently between 12-15 thousand uninsured children in the Virgin Islands who are above the Medicaid threshold and not covered by private insurance. "Because of the limited SCHIP funding that has been available, the government has struggled to provide appropriate health care for otherwise qualified children," deJongh said. deJongh estimated that between $12-$15 million, or $1,000 per qualified child, is required to establish a full-fledged SCHIP program in the territory. deJongh also explained that Medicaid funding in the V.I. is capped at 50% which represents a significantly lower level than in most states. "This cap has created an extreme financial hardship on our health care system." DeJongh told congressional representatives that because of the limited Medicaid funding, the government has had to severely curb the income and resource criteria for Medicaid clients, which has resulted in an income restriction of $8,500 per year for a family of four. "As a result of the restriction, which is well below 100% of the federal poverty level, a substantial number of potential Medicaid candidates do not qualify for Medicaid, thereby increasing the number of clients above Medicaid levels and below private insurance who could have qualified under the SCHIP program." "It is my hope that you and your colleagues will consider the important needs of children in the Virgin Islands and provide the necessary funding to establish a full-fledged SCHIP program," deJongh wrote. The correspondence was sent to Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee Max Baucus, Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee Charles Rangel, U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman, John D. Rockefeller IV, Charles Grassley, Tom Harkin, Edward Kennedy, Orrin Hatch and Representatives Jim McCrery and John Dingell. |
