Postponement of children's premiums will save thousands of kids from losing coverage

The Community Health Network of Washington (CHNW) applauds Governor Locke's decision today to delay implementation of Medicaid premiums for children. The premiums, which would have affected children between 150% and 200% of the Federal Poverty Line (FPL), have been delayed until July 2005.

"This is smart medicine for the children of our state," said Darnell Dent, CEO of Community Health Network of Washington. "Thousands of Washington State children who would have lost their coverage will maintain their health care benefits as a result of Governor Locke's decision. The cost to our state of eliminating these premiums is more than offset by the savings from the over 27,000 children who have already lost health coverage due to changes made to the Children's Medicaid Program last year."

Beginning in 2003, when children's premiums were proposed in the state legislature, a broad coalition of organizations, including health care and children's advocates, has fought to eliminate them.

"Monthly Medicaid premiums for children, at any dollar amount, hurt kids," said Dent. "Delaying the premiums was the right decision to make for kids and the state, and as a major priority for the Community Health Network of Washington, we're very pleased with the Governor's decision."