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