DENVER-
Colorado expects to receive $618 million more for a popular government health program, enough to help many of the 176,000 uninsured children in the state, if Congress reauthorizes the program, members of Colorado’s congressional delegation said Monday.
Sen. Ken Salazar, who sits on the Senate Finance Committee, said the State Children’s Health Insurance Program expires this summer unless Congress renews it before Sept. 30. The debate over the future of the program may be the biggest health policy battle this year.
“We have a health care system that’s in crisis,” Salazar said.
Democrats have proposed spending $75 billion over five years—more than double the Bush administration’s recommendation.
Salazar said about 800,000 people in Colorado are without health care insurance, and providing coverage for children would be a good start.
