Health insurance is a key to accessing needed medical services. State Children's Health Insurance Program insures 44,000 children in Utah. Some 11 percent are uninsured.

This year, Congress will debate reauthorization of SCHIP, and the March of Dimes urges Congress to use this opportunity to tackle the problem of uninsured pregnant women and children. Congress should provide funding that enables states to cover all children eligible for SCHIP but who are currently not enrolled. Lack of health insurance can mean delay or denial of needed medical services.

States should be given the option to enroll pregnant women who meet program guidelines. Numerous studies have shown that health coverage is essential for access to maternity care critical to the health of both mother and baby.

Families with a child who has special health-care needs and limited private insurance should be able to use SCHIP to provide the benefits missing in their private plan. Combining private and public coverage would provide a more comprehensive set of health benefits and enable states to stretch their SCHIP dollars and reach more uninsured children.

To improve program accountability to parents and policymakers, the SCHIP bill should also upgrade guidelines for monitoring and reporting on the quality of pediatric services the program provides.

Our U.S. senators and representatives should support strengthening this successful program.

The March of Dimes hopes members of Congress will embrace the above recommendations. Millions of families rely on SCHIP for their children's health insurance, and the program should insure all eligible children.

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Amy Hansen is the director of the Utah chapter of the March of Dimes.