07-R232

2007 -- H 6144

Enacted 05/08/07

H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

URGING THE GOVERNOR TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL ASSISTANCE TO HELP IDENTIFY AND ENROLL CHILDREN WHO QUALIFY FOR MEDICAID AND RITECARE PROGRAMS

Introduced By: Representatives Slater, Diaz, Williams, E Coderre, and Naughton

Date Introduced: March 13, 2007

WHEREAS, The health of our children is of paramount importance to families in the

State of Rhode Island; and

     WHEREAS, Poor child health is a threat to the educational achievement, social and

psychological well-being of the children of this State; and

     WHEREAS, Protecting the health of children is essential to the well-being of our

youngest citizens and the quality of life in this State; and

     WHEREAS, The RItecare program is an integral part of the arrangements for health

benefits for the children in the State of Rhode Island; and

     WHEREAS, The value of the RItecare program in preserving child wellness, preventing

and treating childhood disease, improving health outcomes, and reducing overall health costs is

immeasurable; and

     WHEREAS, Because the federal SCHIP program provides Rhode Island’s RItecare

program with significant funding thus enabling RItecare to provide quality health care to some of

Rhode Island’s most vulnerable citizens, the federal funding available for the RItecare program is

indispensable to providing health benefits for children of modest means; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby urges the members of Rhode Island’s delegation to the United

States Congress to ensure that the Congress timely reauthorizes the State Children Health

Insurance Program (SCHIP) to assure federal funding for the RItecare program in Rhode Island;

and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives urges the Governor of the State of

Rhode Island to use his best efforts to work with the Rhode Island delegation to ensure that the

federal SCHIP is reauthorized in a timely manner; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives hereby urges that all components of

State government work together with educators, health care providers, social workers, and parents

to ensure that all available public and private assistance for providing health benefits to uninsured

children in this State be used to the maximum extent possible; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives urges the Governor to use his best

efforts to provide meaningful assistance to help identify and enroll children who qualify for

Medicaid or the RItecare programs; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation and

The Honorable Governor Donald Carcieri.

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LC02489

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