"Prevention Summer 2003" Campaign
Summer is here and kids will
have a lot of free time on their hands. WV CHIP is hoping
that some of this free time will be spent in the doctorÇs
officeð getting preventative check-ups.
The åPrevention Summer 2003Ç
campaign is underway and the goal of the campaign is to
promote preventative services to CHIP participants.
Physicians, dentists, optometrists, ophthalmologists, and
opticians will be offered a higher reimbursement fee from
May 15-September 30, 2020 for preventative services.
An informational mailer was
sent to providers as well as CHIP participants informing
them of the campaign and encouraging parents to get their
children ready for school by making an appointment with
their childÇs doctor.
Children will be eligible for
preventative health and dental check-ups, a pair of
replacement glasses and an additional eye exam.
For more information on the
åPrevention Summer 2003Ç campaign, visit the WV CHIP website
at
www.wvchip.org
State Fair
Volunteers Needed
WVCHIP is looking for
volunteers to staff the booth at the West Virginia State
Fair during the week of August 8 - 17. The booth will be
located in the WV State Building.
Volunteers will distribute
promotional items, information and applications to
fair-goers. There will be two shifts: 9 am - 3 pm and 3 pm -
9 pm.
CHIP will provide lodging and the entrance ticket to the fair.
Parking is free.
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact: Pam
Gunter at 558-6633 or pamelagunter@wvdhhr.org
Covering Kids and
Families åBack to SchoolÇ Campaign 2003
Covering Kids and Families is
preparing for itÇs fourth annual åBack to School 2003Ç
enrollment and outreach drive which will kick-off July 31,
2003. The goal of the Covering Kids & Families
Back-to-School outreach effort is to place childrenÇs health
care coverage at the top of the "to do" list of every parent
with an uninsured child. Over the last several years,
thousands of Back-to-School events have taken place. In
every state and the District of Columbia, parents have been
reached with the message that low-cost and free health care
coverage is available. As a result of this outreach,
national and toll-free hotlines have been flooded with calls
from parents of uninsured children.
We are excited about West
VirginiaÇs participation in this National effort again this
year. Organizations are encouraged to organize åBack to
SchoolÇ activities in their area.
To assist you in your
efforts, you may order a copy of the Action Kit or download
the template materials on the Web at
www.coveringkids.org/communications. Spanish-language
versions of the template materials are also available on the
Web site as well as promotional items such as bookmarks,
stickers, and posters.
Look for more information on
upcoming åBack to SchoolÇ events in the next WVHK&FC
newsletter.
Editorial on CHIP
from the Charleston Daily Mail
CHIP brings millions of
federal dollars into W Va.
The Daily MailÇs articles and
editorials about the West Virginia ChildrenÇs Health
Insurance Program are always negative and cranky. No doubt
al lot of government programs deserve criticism, but the
ChildrenÇs Health Insurance Program is not one of them.
The MailÇs news articles and
editorials could be more credible if writerÇs would be more
thoughtful and discerning.
CHIP is one of the best
government-supported programs we have in West Virginia. Just
ask the thousands of hard-working parents who get some help
in taking care of the medical needs of their children.
Ask the doctors, dentists and
hospitals who get paid for providing services. Ask the
children, who will have a better chance in life because
their heath care needs are being met.
On top of all that, CHIP
supports the stateÇs economy by bringing millions of new
Federal dollars into West Virginia.
The MailÇs concern that CHIP
will become a deficit program in the future are premature.
Before 2007, when the first deficits are projected, many
things can happen. West Virginia may get some more of the
unspent Federal CHIP appropriations.
For example, this year the
state received an additional $16 million in redistributed
federal dollars. Congress may decide to increase payments to
states when the program begins to reach itÇs financial
limits.
If there are no new federal
dollars the Governor and State Legislature have the option
of limiting the program or charging parents more for
co-payments.
In the meantime, letÇs
support hard-working West Virginia Families and their
children. ItÇs a good investment.
Renate E. Pore
Published in the Charleston Daily Mailà Monday, June 16,
2003.
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