Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 19, 1992 TAG: 9202190347
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHARLES HITE MEDICAL WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
OLIN HEALTH CARE BILL: KIDS FREE
Sixth District Rep. Jim Olin introduced a bill Tuesday to establish free national health care for pregnant women and children under age 7.The $46 billion to fund the program would come largely from increases in corporate and personal tax rates.
"It's going to be expensive," Olin said. But he insisted the program would "pay for itself over time" by preventing birth defects, complications of low birth-weight, and chronic illnesses that end up costing millions of dollars to treat.
Olin's bill must compete for attention with more than a dozen major health-care reforms before Congress. All the attention could help his program, Olin said, because most of the other proposals are likely to take a long time to get passed and implemented.
"I think there is a chance this year that we might be able to get agreement to start serving at least part of the population," Olin said. "This could become the beginning of a larger national health program."
His bill, Olin acknowledged, is not likely to get much support from President Bush, who is proposing a plan that would encourage families to purchase health insurance through a tax break.
"He's in love with the insurance industry," Olin said of Bush. "But I'm not giving up. The insurance companies just haven't done the job."
To receive coverage under Olin's plan, children 6 and under and pregnant women would apply for insurance cards at their local health department. "Care coordinators" at the health departments would make sure those enrolled in the program got the appropriate services - including finding a doctor, keeping appointments and arranging transportation.
Covered services include care during pregnancy and childbirth, routine office visits and checkups, hospital care, dental care, diagnostic tests and prescription drugs.
The bill would create a National Children's Health Care Administration to pay fees established by an advisory commission of physicians, nurses, hospital administrators, dentists and parents.
"While we continue to work on the larger problems with our national health-care system, we should take steps to help children," Olin said. "Children are one of the neediest groups in our society, and the least likely to be able to fend for themselves."
Olin noted that the U.S. Census Bureau estimates nearly 40 percent of American children have little or no health insurance. About 200,000 children in Virginia lack medical insurance.
About $6 billion of Olin's plan would come from shifting funds from women and children's services in Medicaid, the federal health program for the poor. Olin said only half of Medicaid-eligible children actually receive medical services, that Medicaid rules are complex, and that services are fragmented and vary widely from state to state.
Nearly $33 billion for the program would come from increasing the three levels of individual income tax rates - now set at 15 percent, 28 percent and 31 percent - to 16 percent, 30 percent and 33 percent. Another $7.5 billion would come from raising the top corporate tax rate to 37 percent from 34 percent.