Health Insurance Reform - DAILY MYTHBUSTER: Child Care and Development
08/11/2009
Health Insurance Reform DAILY MYTHBUSTER: Child Care and Development
Some health insurance reform opponents continue to spread myths about components of America’s Affordable Health Choices Act. Now they are criticizing components of the bill that will benefit families with and expecting children. The facts disprove these claims.
Myth: As part of the provision in Section 1904 of the bill, the government is trying to usurp parental rights in child care and development.
Fact: There is no truth to this allegation. America’s Affordable Health Choices Act provides grants to states for voluntary home visitation programs for families with young children and families expecting children to improve the well-being, health, and development of children.
• There is no usurping of parental rights. The program is voluntary. Only those families who request assistance and education on child care and development will receive it.
• The bill would create, for the first time, a federal funding stream to help states and communities better plan for and provide quality services to families. In addition, the bill would create competitive grant programs to expand access to home visitation services, and it would help states create partnerships between programs and related community services.
• This is bipartisan reform. Similar provisions have been included in bipartisan bills during this Congress, such as S.244 and H.R. 2667. In the last Congress, H.R. 2343, a bill with similar provisions, received bipartisan support, including Republican cosponsors. [Find out More]
• This program, recommended by the President in his budget, is based upon extensive studies of social interventions: Nurse-Family Partnership, which helps change the lives of vulnerable first-time mothers and their babies through ongoing home visits from registered nurses. This evidence-based community health program has proven results, including long-term family improvements in health, education, and economic self-sufficiency. While helping low-income families, an investment in Nurse-Family Partnership saves communities more than it costs by reducing welfare, health care and juvenile justice expenditures. [Find out More]
For more health insurance reform myth busting, please click here.
For more information on America’s Affordable Health Choices Act, please click here.