Today, there's a new beat coming out of Nashville,
Tennessee (aka Music City, USA).
Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen has changed his tune and announced that
on March 1 enrollment will resume for
CoverKids, the state's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The Governor had frozen enrollment in
November but, after a loud public outcry, he decided to tap a state savings
account for public health programs to re-open enrollment for uninsured
children.
The news is music to the ears of the parents of the
145,000 uninsured children in Tennessee who may be eligible for coverage if
they are unable to find private health insurance. The Tennessee Justice Center and other advocates have been
urging the Governor to re-open enrollment. Michele Johnson at the Justice Center blogged about the enrollment freeze on Say Ahhh! last month and credits the blog with
helping to focus attention on the issue which led to the Governor's action to
re-open CoverKids.
In announcing the change in policy last night, the
Governor was quoted as saying: "Fortunately, we've been able to dig deep and
find additional funding to keep this option available to families in
need."
Let's hope other Governors and state policymakers are
paying attention and will "dig deep" before denying access to affordable
coverage to children in need.
By 
This week's snow and ice has been unprecedented here in DC and we've all had a taste of how hard it can be to manage. So it's great news that TN's CHIP enrollment freeze is about to thaw! A CHIP freeze means that eligible children can't be enrolled even though they qualify; it compromises their health and exposes their families to serious financial harm. Secretary Sebelius just issued a challenge to enroll 5 million uninsured children who are eligible for Medicaid and CHIP. Now TN's can step up to meet its share of that challenge and TN children don't have to be left out in the cold. THANKS!
This is great news for the kids of TN! Now Arizona remains as the one state that has shut down enrollment in its CHIP program.
I wish Arizona had a savings account that wasn't already depleted, like Tennessee. But there are other sources, if our legislature is willing. Good news, Tennessee!
Glad Governor Bredesen saw the light and found a way to help uninsured kids just when they needed it most. Let's hope other Governors will support kids coverage.
Va. is considering a freeze as well as a reduction in eligibllity guidlelines for FAMIS. I live and work with people in Southside VA. and we are already struggling - this would just add another burden and worry to our families. I hope our Governor and legislature will read and heed Tenn.'s example and not take these actions.
Education and jobs are big issues here ,as in other areas. We have to keep our children healthy so they can attend school regularly. The parents need to work when they can, not stay home with sick children. These issues need to go hand-in-hand!!