APHA: use reform to better kids' health.

Despite significant gains in children's health, many millions of kids remain without needed coverage and services--an issue that should be addressed in the current health reform debate, APHA said in August.

In an August letter to members of the House of Representatives and Senate, APHA and dozens of health and children's advocates called for health reform to "ensure that everyone has access to high quality, affordable care--that includes millions of children who remain uninsured or who can't get the services they need, despite having an insurance card." Specifically, the letter urges policy-makers to preserve Medicaid, which covers millions of low-income children and provides a broad range of benefits, as well as improve Medicaid payment rates to providers. The letter also calls for eliminating the "red tape and bureaucracy" that faces many parents attempting to enroll their children in programs such as Medicaid or the State Children's Health Insurance Program. Children should also be covered from "head to toe," according to the First Focus-initiated letter, with coverage that offers preventive services as well as dental and mental health services.

"We look forward to working with you to build upon the strengths of children's current health care coverage and to make needed reforms to improve quality, access and affordability of care for children," the letter stated. "There are no do-overs for childhood. We must get health reform right the first time by enacting legislation that improves coverage and care for America's children."

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To send a letter to members of Congress on health reform, visit APHA's advocacy page at http:// action.apha.org/site/Page Navigator/Advocacy.