Ensuring a healthy start in life for children remains not only a high
priority of my Administration, but also one of the most cost effective
forms of health care.
When I took office, immunization levels for preventable childhood diseases
had fallen to 70%. As a result of a concerted nationwide effort during my
Administration, I am pleased to report that now at least 90% of children
under 15, and virtually all school-age children are immunized. In addition,
reported cases of measles and mumps are at their lowest levels ever.
Under the National Health Plan I have proposed, there would be no
cost-sharing for prenatal and delivery services for all pregnant women and
for acute care provided to infants in their first year of life. These
preventive services have extremely high returns in terms of improved
newborn and long-term child health.
Under the Child Health Assurance Program (CHAP) legislation which I
submitted to the Congress, and which passed the House, an additional two
million low-income children under 18 would become eligible for Medicaid
benefits, which would include special health assessments. CHAP would also
improve the continuity of care for the nearly 14 million children now
eligible for Medicaid. An additional 100,000 low-income pregnant women
would become eligible for prenatal care under the proposal. I strongly urge
the new Congress to enact CHAP and thereby provide millions of needy
children with essential health services. The legislation has had strong
bipartisan support, which should continue as the details of the bill are
completed.
I also urge the new Congress to provide strong support for two highly
successful ongoing programs: the special supplemental food program for
women, infants and children (WIC) and Family Planning. The food supplements
under WIC have been shown to effectively prevent ill health and thereby
reduce later medical costs. The Family Planning program has been effective
at reducing unwanted pregnancies among low-income women and adolescents.