More than 7 million children were enrolled in the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) in 2007--a 5.9 percent increase over the previous year, Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt announced March 12.
“While we are pleased that SCHIP continues to grow, we must do more to reach those at the lowest income levels who still need this coverage,” Leavitt said. “Toward that end, we will continue to work with Congress on the reauthorization of this vital program.”
The announcement comes as SCHIP faces reauthorization in the upcoming year. Created in 1997 with bipartisan support in Congress, the program received $40 billion in federal funds through 2007. Congress has recently extended the program until March 2009. Access the 2007 report.
