Children's Advocacy Issues - The National Perspective
As the only freestanding children's hospital in Colorado, it is imperative for The Children's Hospitalto focus on child health policy decisions at the local and state level. However, there are quite a few issues at the national level that could have a significant impact on Children's and the populations we serve.
TCH News recently sat down with Sharon Ladin, director, Legislative Action Programs for the National Association of Children's Hospitals (NACH), to get her perspective.
What are some of the big issues related to children's health at the federal level?
- Protecting Medicaid for Children - The President and the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services have proposed changes that could place limitations on some of the ways that states currently finance their Medicaid programs. Depending on how these changes are implemented they could result in reduced funding for state Medicaid programs. This isn't good news for either Medicaid recipients or for hospitals like The Children's Hospital that serve large numbers of children insured by Medicaid.
- Reauthorizing SCHIP - This year, the funding authority for the SCHIP program (known as CHP+ in Colorado) expires. There's no question that there is the political will in Washington to reauthorize the program; the question is whether the reauthorization will include all that it can to ensure the best coverage for children.
- Children's Hospitals Graduate Medical Education (CHGME) - As a teaching hospital, Children's qualifies for these federal dollars, and they provide much-needed support for your programs -- $40 million over the past seven years! Although children's hospitals have always enjoyed broad support for CHGME appropriations in the past, a tight budget environment has made it much more difficult than ever before to collect the support of legislators for a full appropriation of $330 million dollars this year.
- Community Benefit - Over the past two years, questions about whether tax-exempt hospitals deserve to remain exempt from federal, state and local taxation have become increasingly frequent and intense. This reinforces the need for continued participation in community benefit tracking programs like the Stepping Stones program you have here at Children's.
In the scheme of things, how important is it that advocates in Colorado speak up on these issues?
Very important! We rely on Children's to mobilize your employees and advocates to be a strong voice on these issues. Several members of the Colorado Congressional delegation hold key appointments ideally suited for influencing child health policy, particularly Medicaid and SCHIP - Congresswoman DeGette is vice chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and Senator Salazar is on the Senate Finance Committee.
What are some of the ways Children's has played a critical role in national advocacy efforts?
In addition to generating more than 4,000 letters to Congress on Medicaid and CHGME in recent years, Children's has participated in advocacy days in Washington D.C. and secured support for CHGME funding from the Colorado congressional delegation.
How does The Children's Hospital compare to other children's hospitals across the nation in terms of our advocacy efforts?
Children's is really considered a national leader in this arena; we regularly reference your hospital as a model for other hospitals seeking to establish a comprehensive advocacy program.
The Grassroots Advocacy Network at Children's is an excellent way for employees and interested individuals to be kept apprised of issues impacting children's health, and alerted when there is a call to action. By utilizing online advocacy software, Children's has made it easy to take action in a matter of minutes.
Additionally, your expertise in coordinating media advocacy and other public relations efforts around a priority issue is also something many hospitals throughout the country want to replicate.
