HEALTH INSURANCE FOR CHILDRENState Legislatures across the country are debating a very controversial issue -- HEALTH INSURANCE FOR CHILDREN! In Missouri, the legislation, HB 81, is called "Healthy Missouri Children Corporation Act". In Texas, the legislation, HB 3, is called "Texas Healthy Kids Corporation Act". The bills introduced in Missouri, Texas and other states not only have almost identical titles, but the bills also have a number of components in common: 1) a nonprofit corporation is to be organized to facilitate a program to bring preventive health care to children. [HB 811, Sec 2] 2) the nonprofit corporation shall have all powers necessary to carry out the purposes of this act. [HB 811, Sec 3. 4] 3) grants from foundations will be obtained to start up the program. In Missouri, "the state hopes to obtain a $100,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation ... " [St Louis Post-Dispatch, 3/10/97] 4) the corporation's board of directors will consist of the directors of the departments of insurance, health, social services, mental health, the commissioner of education and six members appointed by the governor, approved by the senate. [HB 811, Sec 4. 1] 5) the corporation shall have access to medical records of a student with parental permission. [HB 811, Sec 6] 6) the general assembly may appropriate sufficient funds for the corporation to initially commence operation. Thereafter, funding may come from any public or private source. [HB 811, Sec 3. 2] 7) "health care services" can be provided at school facilities when more appropriate sites are unavailable. [HB 811, Sec 2] 8) the corporation will consult with appropriate professional organizations to establish the appropriate "health care services" that will be provided for eligible children. [HB 811, Sec 3. l (4) ] TO THINK ABOUT?...the nonprofit corporation will be subject to the supervision and approval of the board of directors, which consists of unelected department heads and members appointed by the governor --no accountability....foundation-financed programs, once started, tend to go on forever, even after the foundation money has ended, all at taxpayer expense. [Forbes, 12/16/96, p.128] ...the "health care services" that will be offered to the children will be established by the corporation -- but what will qualify as a "health care service"? Routine physicals, including genital exams (such as occurred to fifty-some 11-year old girls in East Stroudsburg, PA in 1996)?; Psychological tests and experiments (such as occurred to 900 elementary schoolchildren in Monroeville, PA? {Donna Hearne, "Health Care or Health Harm?", Front Line, Spring 1997] Mental health evaluations? eye exams? dental exams? immunization management? family planning? Because the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation favors abortion rights, would abortion coverage be part of the "health services" offered? Missouri's Governor, Mel Carnahan responded to this question by saying, " that would be up to the directors." [James F. Wolfe, "Gov. Carnahan unveils plan for health insurance", The Joplin Globe, March 6, 1997] ...Under Section 3.4, what records must the state provide the foundation in return for the grant? The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, "as a matter of course, requires state government agencies to provide to the Foundation all data, in whatever form, that is generated pursuant to the grant program." [Genevieve Young, "FOCUS: The Medicalization of Public Schools, Education Reporter, January 1997, p.3] ...How will school "health care" programs effect the need for different types of staff and larger school facilities, and at what cost to taxpayers? ...Should schools be in the business of health care? According to Education Secretary Riley, "Education, then takes on new meaning -- one that encompasses the total physical and emotional as well as intellectual development of the children". [Richard Riley, "Fulfilling Reforms' Promise", 1990 BellSouth Foundation's School Reform Report] FOUNDATION'S ROLE IN HEALTH CARE . . .Charitable foundations in the U.S. "dole out about $100 million each year to state and local governments." [McMenamin, Brigid, "Trojan horse money", Forbes Magazine, NY. December 16, 1996, p. 123] "The whole purpose is to lure states into expanding their bureaucracies and increasing spending, all in the name of improving public health. " [Forbes Magazine, 12/16/96, p.128]"... several billionaire foundations are pursuing a large-scale plan to turn the public schools into delivery centers for all kinds of health services, including physical examinations, treatment and medication of children, with or without their parents' knowledge or consent. This plan also includes compiling all sorts of private information on schoolchildren and their families". ["Medicaid Moneyline Flows to Schools", Education Reporter, January 1997, p. 1] "The Pennsylvania state legislature just completed a two-year investigative study into how its 'school-based health program became a reality'. The report is a shocking story of a wealthy private foundation's attempt to buy public policy." The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) "is accused of trying to initiate a 'comprehensive health care program for Pennsylvania' through the back door of education reform without notifying the taxpayers or the state's General Assembly". [Lawrence Criner, "Covert health reform through schools?", The Washington Times, 1/30/97, p. A13] CURRENT STATUS:1. HB 811 was introduced late in the session, but has already had hearings and was reported "do pass" out of committee on 3/26/97. Because it is on a "fast track", it will be on the House Calendar very soon.2. On March 25, 1996, Governor Carnahan's amendment to HB 7 was passed, which will allow the Department of Insurance to accept and expend the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's "Missouri KidsCare Planning Grant" of $103,188 as seed money to fund the "Healthy Missouri Children Corporation Act" (HB 811). 3. If you do not live in Missouri, check with your state legislators to find out if your state's General Assembly is working on "Healthly Kids" legislation. |