Washington – Stalemate in Congress threatens Ala. ALL Kids coverage
The director of Alabama's ALL Kids subsidized health insurance program is warning that a stalemate over federal funding could soon force the state to end some children's coverage.
Director Cathy Caldwell said it's very possible that enrollment will be reduced in the next several months.
She callis it "a very sticky situation."
ALL Kids is Alabama's version of the State Children's Health Insurance Program - called SCHIP.
Congress started it 10 years ago to cover children in families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford private insurance.
Lawmakers are locked in a debate over how much money SCHIP needs as they reauthorize the program for another five years.
Congress has twice passed bipartisan legislation to expand the program by $35 billion over five years.
But President Bush, with support from Alabama Republicans, has vetoed the measures, and Democratic leaders have fallen just short of the votes needed to override his opposition.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)