Editorial: Don't gut children's insurance

The program was started with much promise two years ago as a way to help nearly 5 million children without insurance get medical care. Congress set aside $39 billion over 10 years for the program, with the federal government paying 65 percent of the costs and the states assuming the rest. The New York Times noted that very little money has been spent so far: $4.2 billion was budgeted per year for 1998 and 1999, but states used just $260 million in 1998 and the Congressional Budget Office estimates states will use only $800 million this year.

Some states, including Nevada, earn some of the blame for the program getting off to a slow start. A failure to establish aggressive outreach efforts initially hurt the program here. But the states also faced hurdles not of their own making. They had to create new programs from scratch, which included devising eligibility requirements and application forms that had to meet the approval of the federal government.

Despite its fits and starts across the nation, the program can work. South Carolina was able to enroll more than 40,000 children after it simplified its application process and began an outreach program that dropped off applications in nongovernment settings, such as churches, drug stores, day-care centers and Indian reservations. States should look around and take their cues from others that were able to get their programs moving swiftly.

Nevada apparently has learned from its earlier missteps and has tried an outreach program that officials believe will increase enrollment. It is anticipated by the end of the year there will be 10,000 children enrolled in the program, which is called Nevada Check Up. Initial estimates for those who would enroll -- in Nevada alone it was thought that as many as 60,000 children would sign up -- obviously were too optimistic. But it would be wrong for Congress to start reallocating some of those unspent dollars elsewhere before the program has a chance to get its footing.

Health care reform today focuses almost singularly on fixing abuses by health insurance companies. While Congress and state legislatures should address those concerns, an equally important need exists to provide health insurance for Americans who can't afford it. Congress shouldn't give up so quickly on this federal-state partnership that has great potential.

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