National Patient Advocate Foundation Applauds Senators Lautenberg and Brown for Protecting Health Care Coverage for At-Ris...( Children's Health Protection Act ...),Health

Children's Health Protection Act Will End Pre-Existing Condition Limitations For Children and Safeguard Access To Care for Those With Chronic Conditions

WASHINGTON, June 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Patient Advocate Foundation (NPAF) -- a national, non-profit organization dedicated to the mission of creating avenues of improved patient access to health care through public policy reform at the state and federal levels -- today praised Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) for introducing the Children's Health Protection Act of 2008 (S. 3115). The Lautenberg-Brown legislation takes an important and very necessary step in protecting children unable to attain private health insurance coverage as a result of pre-existing medical conditions. Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Representative Allyson Schwartz (D-PA) in 2007.

Approximately 20 percent of school-aged children suffer from a chronic illness according to the Child Study Center at New York University's School of Medicine; this legislation would be a significant achievement and help protect this vulnerable population. In addition, the Children's Health Protection Act would allow some of the almost nine million American children who are uninsured to obtain necessary care for the treatment of their chronic conditions.

"Children in America with chronic, disabling and life-threatening conditions often fall through the cracks because our current law prevents them from gaining health insurance coverage that delivers access to the medical care they so desperately need," said Nancy Davenport-Ennis, President and CEO of NPAF. "Eliminating these gaps and ensuring that medically at-risk children have access to care is a principal goal of NPAF's ongoing mission to improve patient access to care. NPAF is grateful for the support of Senators Lautenberg, Brown and Representative Schwartz on this critical issue."

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