Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions S622

STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

By Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. BAUCUS, Ms. SNOWE, Mr. DASCHLE, Mr. SMITH, Mr. KERRY, Mr. THOMAS, Mr. BINGAMAN, Mr. BUNNING, Mr. ROCKEFELLER, Mrs. LINCOLN, Mr. JEFFORDS, Mr. ENZI, Mr. SARBANES, Mr. DOMENICI, Mr. JOHNSON, Mr. ENSIGN, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. HOLLINGS, Ms. STABENOW, Mr. CORZINE, Mr. BENNETT, Mr. SCHUMER, Mr. WARNER, Mr. REID, Mr. DEWINE, Mr. REED, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. MILLER, Mr. LUGAR, Mr. LIEBERMAN, Mr. LEAHY, Mr. CHAFEE, Mr. KOHL, Mr. GRAHAM of South Carolina, Mr. EDWARDS, Mr. MCCAIN, Mr. DORGAN, Mr. ROBERTS, Mr. DODD, Mr. DAYTON, Ms. CANTWELL, Mr. BREAUX, Mr. BIDEN, Ms. MIKULSKI, Mr. LEVIN, Ms. LANDRIEU, Mr. INOUYE, Mr. HARKIN, Mr. DURBIN, Mrs. CLINTON, Mrs. BOXER, Mr. BAYH, and Mr. AKAKA):

S. 622. A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide families of disabled children with the opportunity to purchase coverage under the medicaid program for such children, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Finance.

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, Senator KENNEDY and I are happy to announce the introduction of the Family Opportunity Act of 2003, a bill to promote family, work, and opportunity. Every day, across the country, thousands of families struggle to obtain affordable and appropriate health care coverage for children with special health care needs, including children with conditions such as autism, mental retardation, cerebral palsy, developmental delays, or mental illness.

Low and middle income parents who have employer sponsored family health care coverage often find that their private insurance doesn't adequately cover the array of services that are critical to their child's well-being, such as mental health services, personal care services, durable medical equipment, special nutritional supplements, and respite care. Because Medicaid, our nation's health care program for low-income individuals, offers the type of comprehensive care that best meets the needs of children with disabilities, it can become a lifeline on which many parents depend.

Yet, Medicaid is a safety net program and one must be impoverished in order to be eligible. This presents a terrible choice for many low and middle income families who have a child with special health care needs: they must choose between work or impoverishment. Or, in the worst cases, parents consider the devastating choice of relinquishing custody for an out-of-home placement so their child can obtain services they so desperately need. Truly, there is nothing more heartbreaking for a parent than to be unable to provide for a child in need.

Consider the following example: Mr. and Mrs. Jones have two daughters, Heather and Hannah. Hannah was born with cerebral palsy. The family earns $29,000 a year and is insured through employer sponsored health insurance. Mr. Jones recently lost his job because of down-sizing. Last year, even with insurance, the family spent nearly $9,000 on out-of-pocket medical expenses. Mr. Jones has found a new job; unfortunately, the family's insurance premium has risen to $200 a month and does not cover essential occupational and physical therapy. The family dipped into their 401K when Hannah was born. The family's earnings minus the health care premiums, minus out of pocket expenses puts this family at an annual income of $17,600. The federal poverty level for a family of four is $18,400. This hard-working family is being impoverished because of their commitment to care for their disabled child.

Over the past three years, I have worked with Senator KENNEDY and Representative PETE SESSIONS to advance this important legislation on behalf of thousands of families who need our help. Each year, more than 70 Senators have signed on as co-sponsors of the legislation. I understand the many pressing challenges facing our nation's health care system, but I urge the Senate to show its support for helping these families and pass the Family Opportunity Act this year.