Representative Martin Heinrich Discusses SCHIP with Local Medical Experts

Press Release

Today U.S. Representative Martin Heinrich (D-NM) hosted a roundtable with leading medical experts to discuss the importance of reauthorizing and expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). On January 14th, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to reauthorize and expand SCHIP by a vote of 289-139 and Rep. Heinrich voted in favor of the legislation.

"While SCHIP currently provides health insurance to some 15,000 New Mexico children, there are still literally tens of thousands of low income children in our state who have no insurance and no access to quality health care. This is unacceptable," said Rep. Heinrich. "Reauthorizing SCHIP is the change American public wants and the change our children deserve."

New Mexico has more than 93,000 uninsured children in the state which is the third highest percentage of uninsured children in the nation. Under the legislation that passed the House, the 7 million children who currently participate in SCHIP will continue to receive coverage and an additional 4 million uninsured children will become eligible.

Rep. Heinrich was joined at the roundtable by Dr. Ben Hoffman, President-Elect of the New Mexico Pediatric Society, and Carolyn Ingram, Director of New Mexico Medicaid.

Dr. Hoffman spoke about his first-hand, frontline knowledge of the tremendous impact this expansion will have on New Mexico's children. Dr. Hoffman said, "In my experience, the fundamental issue is that kids need coverage so they can access even the most basic medical services. When children have health insurance their parents are much more likely to seek out needed care before an illness becomes a serious medical problem."

Ms. Ingram discussed how SCHIP is administered here in New Mexico and the possible benefits of an expansion of this program. Ms. Ingram added, "The SCHIP program is a safety net for thousands of New Mexico families to help keep their kids healthy. Reauthorization of SCHIP is vital in continuing to cover these kids and assist New Mexico in reaching out to even more uninsured children."

The SCHIP legislation is now before the Senate and a vote is expected in the coming weeks.

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