The full Senate yesterday approved the Senate Finance Committee's proposed $35 billion expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program. The 68-31 vote comes one day after the House approved its SCHIP bill, the Children's Health and Medicare Protection (CHAMP) Act.
At least 67 supporting votes were needed to ensure an override of President Bush's promised veto of the Senate's expansion. With 68 votes, the bipartisan Senate bill has a potentially brighter future than the House Democrats' CHAMP Act, which was passed in a 225 to 204 vote on August 1.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) hailed the passage of the bill and its veto-proof status. "After months of working, this feels good because this legislation represents the best of us," Baucus said. "I will continue to push to make sure that nothing stands in the way of these kids getting the healthcare they deserve."
Funding for the Senate's expansion would come from a federal tax increase of 61 cents per pack of cigarettes. The House's CHAMP Act, which would also block a scheduled 10 percent cut to physicians' reimbursements for Medicare services, would be funded by a 45-cent increase and cuts to subsidies paid to private insurers offering Medicare Advantage plans.
"We have restored the program back to its intent - to cover children, not adults," Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, said in a recent statement. "I wish it did not cost what it does, but I am persuaded this is necessary spending when I think of the six million American children who are leading healthier lives because of our vision and commitment."
Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) criticized the bill earlier this week. "One of my concerns about the program as it is now is that it also will actually be taking children now on private insurance off that coverage and putting them onto SCHIP," said Lott. "There are an estimated 2.1 million children who will be moved from private health insurance to the government-run health care program."
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said earlier this week that the CHAMP Act would ensure health insurance for up to 11 million American children. "By passing the CHAMP Act, the New Direction Congress is keeping our promise to seniors on Medicare and meeting our obligation to our future - our children."