Sometimes there seems to be so many tragic problems in America that I don't even know where to start with a diary. But I noticed something new on the healthcare crisis so I thought I would share it with you.
Assessing this year's legislative session, our legislators and Gov. Christine Gregoire deserve applause. They invested in children's health, a sensible and sustainable priority for the future of our state that the vast majority of Washingtonians support.
http://heraldnet.com/stories/05/06/18/100opi_sanders001.cfm
I love it! Democratic Governor Gregoire has helped the uninsured children in Washington State. If we can't get it done on a national level, we will do it state by state until we can.
Gregoire campaigned on healthcare reform and she is already showing results. This is outstanding news.
Gregoire ordered the Department of Social and Health Services to review client eligibility once a year rather than every six months and postpone collecting premiums from low-income parents. Doing so maintains the safety net for children whose parents would otherwise drop out of the program.
But the order is also the first concrete expression of Gregoire's budget priorities.
The state will pay out an extra $16.4 million to insure those children as well as losing $7.1 million in the from of revenue and savings that would have occurred if some parents were required to pay part of the premiums for insuring their children.
The federal government will provide an extra $24.5 million toward the children's health care coverage resulting from Gregoire's order.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/208630_healthcare20.html
Her budget priorities are focusing on the children. Not the rich kids, either. She is focusing on the poor kids that do not have health insurance.
Wow. Sometimes when I think that the Republicans are taking over the whole world, a story like this will brigthen my whole day.
The ripple effect of children losing health insurance can be felt by all - costs are rising for businesses, access is becoming an issue as ER rooms are overcrowded, and hospitals are seeing an increase in the amount of uncompensated care. These issues are affecting the economic health and business environment in the region. Helping provide the children with adequate healthcare is not just good for the children--it is good for everyone.
This is the real pro-life agenda. Helping the people who are already living. I know it is a really crazy idea and all but let's have the government take a role in helping the living.
A big congratulation to Governor Christine Gregoire for making an instant difference in the lives of the uninsured children in Washington. Thanks for showing up to work with genuine moral values.