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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Keeping Texas children and youth healthy ensures a |
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strong future for the Lone Star State, and the CHIP program promotes |
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health in children through preventative care, regular check-ups, |
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immunizations, and other critical services; and |
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WHEREAS, The federal government created the State Children's |
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Health Insurance Program in 1997 to provide health coverage to |
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children in uninsured families who earn too much to qualify for |
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Medicaid but too little to afford private health coverage; and |
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WHEREAS, The 76th Texas Legislature created CHIP in 1999 as a |
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statewide program for children in families earning less than 200 |
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percent of the federal poverty level and who otherwise would not |
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have health care coverage; CHIP began serving the state's children |
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in April of the following year; and |
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WHEREAS, The program provides young Texans with access to a |
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range of affordable medical services, among them doctor and dental |
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visits, vaccinations, hospital care, mental health treatment, |
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vision care, and lab tests, as well as prescription drugs and |
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medical supplies; moreover, Texas CHIP covers treatment for special |
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needs, including preexisting conditions; and |
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WHEREAS, The state's CHIP perinatal program is for residents |
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who are pregnant and unable to afford or receive other health |
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coverage and offers prenatal care, hospital deliveries, postnatal |
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care, and check-ups and vaccines for infants; and |
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WHEREAS, Since the inception of Texas CHIP, the state has |
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provided access to health services for nearly one million more |
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children than had access just over a decade ago; today, Texas CHIP |
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provides comprehensive, affordable health coverage to meet the |
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medical, dental, visual, and mental health needs of nearly 500,000 |
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children; and |
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WHEREAS, Health care is essential to the development and |
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growth of children and youth, and Texas CHIP contributes |
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tremendously to the peace of mind of hardworking parents throughout |
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the state; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 10th anniversary of Texas CHIP |
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and commend all those involved in overseeing and administering the |
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program. |