Thompson introduces childrens health bill

Eureka Times Standard

Congressman Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, introduced legislation this week that he says will protect the nation's children from preventable illnesses, helping to save lives and reduce health care costs.

The bill requires individual and group insurers, employee benefit plans, and health savings accounts to cover preventive benefits for children without copayments or deductibles.

”My bill would ensure that all kids will be able to go to the doctor for the kinds of preventive check-ups that keep kids healthy and cut health care costs by reducing the need for extended hospitalization and more expensive treatments,” said Thompson in a press release.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends preventive care measures for children including immunizations, newborn and infant examinations, and early screening for medical conditions and illnesses. However, health plans do not uniformly cover such preventive services.

One in four Americans with employer-sponsored insurance do not have coverage for regular infant and toddler check-ups. Similarly, one in five employer health care plans do not cover childhood immunizations.

”As families struggle to make ends meet in this deepening recession, the last thing they should have to worry about is whether they can afford to bring their children to the doctor for regular preventive-check ups,” said Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA. “Every child deserves a healthy and safe start to life, and Congressman Thompson's bill would make this a reality by requiring health care plans to cover preventive care for children.”

While some states mandate coverage of certain preventive services, there is no national policy that guarantees children access to necessary preventive care.