Government
Bush challenged on SCHIP limits
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Oct. 1, 2007
Forty-four senators -- including six Republicans and one independent -- signed a letter last month asking President Bush to rescind guidance limiting eligibility for the State Children's Health Insurance Program to children from families earning less than 250% of the federal poverty level ($51,625 for a family of four). Also, a bipartisan group of four senators introduced legislation to nullify the guidance, and New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine said he would ignore it.
In a letter to Bush, Corzine said New Jersey would continue to serve the 10,000 children who would be affected by the rule. He said the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services overstepped its authority by issuing the guidance without the typical notification and comment period for such a significant policy change.
New Jersey's SCHIP covers 120,000 children and has the highest eligibility in the nation at 350% of the poverty level. Corzine also said that if necessary he would pursue legal action, which New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer also has threatened.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2007/10/01/gvbf1001.htm.
