House leaders outline legislative priorities

Teacher pay, Mountain View Corridor, CHIP top list

Published: Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008 12:21 a.m. MST
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
Leaders of the Utah House want to increase teacher salaries, build the Mountain View Corridor and boost enrollment in the Utah Children's Health Insurance Program.

After a morning of ceremonial speeches opening the 2008 legislative session, House leaders held a press conference to outline those priorities for passing bills during the next 45 days. Speaker Greg Curtis, R-Sandy, said he felt confident his team had the consensus to pass legislation dealing with those issues.

Regarding the joint state and federal children's insurance plan — offered in each state nationwide to children whose parents are working but do not have medical insurance — Curtis made a twofold promise to meet the funding needs as well as eliminate the enrollment cap.

About 32,000 children are currently covered by CHIP. Enrollment has been closed almost as often as it has been open the past five years.

Enrollment was closed in September 2006 and reopened this past July when $2 million in ongoing funds and $2 million in one-time funds were approved by the 2007 Legislature, enough to increase total enrollment to between 45,000 and 48,000 children.

Story continues below
CHIP funding has been an ongoing problem in Utah, and news that the House leadership is committing to the insurance plan is welcome news and a wise first step in the state's health-care reform efforts, advocates said Monday.

They point out that there are about 90,000 uninsured children in Utah, 70 percent of which are likely eligible for either Medicaid coverage or CHIP.

"I applaud the effort being made to improve health-care coverage and access," said Karen Crompton, executive director of Voices for Utah Children, the state's leading child welfare advocacy group. "Solutions have to be found, and one of them is sitting right in front of us for most kids."

No special legislation is needed and no new programs have to be started or studied, she said. "CHIP is a known quantity, is popular among the public and with most congressional representatives, is the wisest, most beneficial use of tax dollars and is the most immediate step toward improving health care in Utah."

One element of the health care reform effort , under way in earnest the past two years and distilled into a general multi-step, multi-year proposal for lawmakers this session (HB133), appears to be at cross purposes with the leadership goals announced Monday: One provision in the bill would prohibit children from being enrolled in CHIP if their parents are enrolled in Utah's Premium Partnership of Health Insurance (UPP).

"We'd like to see that provision completely removed," Crompton said. "At minimum, HB133 should be amended to ensure that children receive equal benefits and that subsidizing private coverage is not more expensive than providing coverage through Medicaid or CHIP. There's no guarantee of either at this point."

Recent comments

I agree with the other comment, when does the responsibility of...

Anonymous | Jan. 23, 2008 at 2:52 p.m.

Chilrens health care should be the responsibility of the parents...

Medicare Kid | Jan. 22, 2008 at 10:20 a.m.

previousnext

Latest comments

THis is a great move. Thomas is great at defense and Millsap needs more...

The Jazz need a defensive presence and they need to get rid of Carlos Boozer...

Blake will give the jazz another needed 3 point threat, therefore helping...

What I like about the potential trade is you'd have to assume Portland will...

Portland gets Hinrich from Chicago and Fesenko from Utah. Chicago gets...

about time the Jazz are called to town on this issue lets see if we can trade...

Now, anonymous, you know who I am. I recommend that you read the Book of...

i was a news editor for a houston morning newspaper -- now deceased (thanks...

jazz get: john salmons travis outlaw tyrus thomas nicholas batum bulls...

i would like to get more for Snoozie...However if this brings chemistry think...

Advertisements