Better partnership needed to ensure health care for Iowa children
There is a bipartisan effort in the Legislature this year to increase the number of Iowa children covered by health insurance and to improve the quality of care they receive.
It is critical, however, that the federal government remains a good partner in this effort. The current federal program is underfunded – Iowa is one of at least 14 states looking at a federal funding shortfall this year.
Congress faces decisions about whether and how to renew the State Child Health Insurance Program (called hawk-i in Iowa), which provides health insurance coverage to more than 32,000 Iowa children in low-income families.
Along with Medicaid, hawk-i provides primary and preventive health services to three out of every ten Iowa children. Despite rising health care costs and the falling number of employer health insurance programs, hawk-i has helped many Iowa children receive the health care they need.
Comprehensive health services for children are very cost effective. We should keep doing all we can to identify and treat health and development issues early, before they become chronic conditions.
Last year, the Legislature increased funding for hawk-i. I am hopeful that we can do more this year and that Congress will do its share to provide quality, affordable health care to more Iowa children.
