Pass health care reform. It's what's right for nation's children

Friday, Nov. 20, 2009

This is a critical time in America to ensure that our most vulnerable and in my opinion, our most important, citizens — children — all receive adequate, affordable and comprehensive health care this year.

The Declaration of Independence states, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." Unfortunately, this does not seem the case when it comes to access to health care. More than 45 million Americans are uninsured and about 8 million children are uninsured.

To bring everyone onto equal footing and to ensure a healthier nation, Americans must take a stand and advocate for Congress to pass health care reform.

As a child advocate speaking on behalf of America's most vulnerable children and youth, it is not only right but necessary to ensure that America's health care system is reformed so that all children and youth have equal access to affordable and comprehensive health care coverage. In a country as prosperous as ours, no parent or guardian should have to debate whether or not she can afford to take her child to the hospital because she either has no health care coverage or is underinsured.

It is particularly important to ensure meaningful access to treatment for children and youth who come in contact with the child welfare system and those receiving in-home services and out-of-home placement, as statistics show that this population experiences a disproportionate amount of physical and mental health issues.

I agree that the health care bills are not perfect, but they represent significant steps forward and will do much to increase access to health care services for vulnerable children and families. For example, the bills will extend Medicaid coverage to many more low-income children and adults, provide subsidies for families to purchase health coverage, protect access to foster care and Medicaid services by extending the Recovery Act's increased Medicaid and Title IV-E match, provide funding for home visitation programs, and — most important of all — protect therapeutic foster care programs.

Because of the challenges we face as a country, there is no better time than the present to pursue the passage of health care reform in America. I urge all Americans to call your representative and senators today and tell him/her to support and pass health care reform and to not leave our children behind. It is time that America stands together and does what is right for our nation's children and their health.

Roberta Berry, Waldorf