Kids’ health insurance expanded

OLYMPIA – A measure that would provide health care coverage to thousands more children now heads to the desk of Gov. Chris Gregoire, after the state House passed it Tuesday.

The vote was 68-28, with all but eight Republicans voting against the measure. The Senate passed the bill earlier this session and Gregoire is expected to sign it.

House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam, said the bill would fulfill the promise the state made to have all children in Washington covered by 2010.

“This bill is about children,” Kessler said. “Poor children and middle class children … We cannot continue talking and talking and talking and finding excuses why we can’t do it.”

An estimated 73,000 children in the state are without insurance, with about two-thirds of those eligible for government help. Lawmakers added enough money to expand state health insurance to about 10,000 kids last session.

The measure passed this session would provide coverage to 38,000 more children in the next two years.

“With the passage of this bill, we are now among the leaders in the nation for children’s health,” said House Speaker Frank Chopp, D-Seattle, in a statement. “This is a great day for the kids of Washington state.”

The state estimates that 4.4 percent of children under 19 don’t have health insurance. A decade ago, the gap was 11.4 percent, but lawmakers and recent governors have made some progress. Two years ago, the Legislature and Gregoire set the 2010 goal.

“The passage of this bill today is a huge step forward in that direction, and I am pleased that the Washington state Legislature shares my dedication to the health of our children,” Gregoire said in a statement.

Republicans warned that the bill would not be effective, lead to more large employers not providing health insurance for workers and their families, does not focus on helping the poor and provides coverage to children of illegal immigrants instead of poor adults that are U.S. citizens.

“It’s another false promise to Washington state that won’t be delivered on,” said Assistant Minority Leader Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale.

Rep. Bill Hinkle, R-Cle Elum, ranking minority member of the House Health Care and Wellness committee, said the measure would result in people who have children on private insurance dropping that insurance in favor of the state plan.

“There is a crowd-out factor here,” he said.

Republicans also took issue with changes in eligibility limits that were increased in the committee process. Starting in 2009, a family of four making 300 percent of the federal poverty level – or about $62,000 a year – would now qualify.

“If we’re going to be taking care of the poor children, we should do that first,” said Rep. Lynn Schindler, R-Spokane Valley.

Foster children

The House also passed several bills related to foster children Tuesday:

On a 96-0 vote, a measure that would require the Department of Social and Health Services to conduct background checks and determine services needed for caregivers before placing children in foster homes. The measure would also require annual training of law enforcement on child abuse and neglect.

On a 96-0 vote, a measure that requires detailed documentation for the court on parents’ substance abuse, mental health treatment and injuries to the child when the DSHS recommends a child be returned home after being removed from that home.

On a 95-1 vote, a measure that would continue health coverage for foster children from their 18th birthday through their 21st birthday.

On a 95-1 vote, a measure to keep foster children in their own schools.

On a 81-16 vote, a measure to create scholarship program to cover the full cost of school tuition and attendance for eligible foster youth up to age 26 and provides financial incentives to colleges and universities to recruit and retain foster youth.

On a 64-32 vote, a measure that provides housing stipends supplemental case management services for foster kids aging out of the system.