08/04/10 – What Health Reform Means for Colorado’s Kids
by Rich MarquezDirector of Health Initiatives, Colorado Children's Campaign
The historic health reform bill passed by Congress earlier this year, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, is a big win for Colorado's kids.
Consider the facts: 120,000 children in Colorado are uninsured which gives our state the troublesome ranking of 45th out of the 50 states. Colorado fares only slightly better with respect to the number of uninsured adolescents with a state ranking of 31st. Although Colorado has made strides in immunizing infants and children against preventable diseases, we're still in the middle of the pack with a ranking of 17th in the nation.
We can do better, Colorado's future generations deserve better – and national health reform gives us that opportunity. Thanks to the new law, Colorado families will have options and choices in accessing affordable primary and preventive health care services to give their children a healthy start in life.
Specifically, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will:
- Expand access to safety-net health services by increasing the number of children who qualify for Medicaid and the number of providers available to serve them
- Give young adults the option of getting coverage through their parent's existing health care plan until age 26
- Give parents the choice of designating a primary care provider that specializes in pediatrics if such a provider already participates in the plan's network
- Prohibit health plans from excluding kids from coverage due to existing medical conditions
- Define prenatal care, newborn care and pediatric services, including oral and vision care, as essential health benefits
- Prohibit health care plans from imposing cost sharing requirements for certain immunizations and preventive care services for children.
Importantly, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act gives the State of Colorado choices as to how provisions of the new law will roll out. For example, the new law provides funding for states to implement health care coverage for citizens that cannot purchase a health care plan due to a preexisting condition. Colorado's plan, GettingUSCovered, is now accepting applications with benefits to come online this September.
In addition, local and statewide dialogue regarding Colorado's health insurance exchange is already underway.
In a word, federal health reform paves the way for us to ensure that all Colorado kids grow up healthy and strong.
For more information, contact Rich Marquez.
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