Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Supporters Ask Congress To Ensure Health Coverage For CF Kids

Main Category: Cystic Fibrosis
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health;  Public Health
Article Date: 04 Aug 2007 - 0:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

This week, more than 2,500 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation supporters asked Congress to expand health coverage for children with cystic fibrosis.

CF volunteers wrote their elected officials to convey the importance of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which ensures that many children with cystic fibrosis have access to the health care and treatments that they need. Congress is considering reauthorization of the program.

During the Senate debate, the impact of these letters was illustrated when Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) spoke of the importance of SCHIP by sharing the story of a 9-year-old child with CF, Sydney Lee.

Standing beside a photograph of Sydney, and reading aloud from a letter written by Sydney's mother, Senator Murray spoke about the importance of health coverage for children with chronic diseases. The Senate is expected to vote on this legislation by the end of the week.

Cystic fibrosis was also a part of the discussion in the U.S. House of Representatives. On Wednesday, the House passed its bill to reauthorize SCHIP with language to include cystic fibrosis as part of a new Pediatric Health Quality Measurement Program. The program will develop and evaluate quality measures and best practices for the treatment of diseases like CF.

SCHIP is only one of many important legislative issues that have tremendous significance for people with cystic fibrosis. By becoming an advocate with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, volunteers and supporters can directly influence the policies that help in the fight against cystic fibrosis.

About the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is the leading organization devoted to curing and controlling cystic fibrosis. Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., the Foundation funds CF research, has 80 chapter and branch offices throughout the country, and supports and accredits a nationwide network of 115 CF care centers, including 94 adult programs, which provide vital treatments and other CF resources to patients and families. For more information, visit http://www.cff.org.

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
http://www.cff.org