Florida Children's Services Council: Children Win Big with Final Passage of KidCare

"There is no plaque big enough for Senator Rich."

As written in Capitol Connections:

Legislators and advocates handed Florida's children a tremendous victory Friday with passage -- by unanimous vote in the Senate and House -- of KidCare legislation that will give thousands more children access to the health care they need. The bill, which now goes to the Governor, will remove major barriers from the KidCare program and make it easier for families to enroll uninsured, eligible children. It will also help eligible children currently enrolled not lose their health insurance coverage.

Provisions of the bill include:

• Reducing the disenrollment penalty for non-payment of premiums from 60 to 30 days.
• Reducing the waiting period for voluntary cancellation of insurance coverage from 6 months to 60 days.
• Providing good cause exceptions to the waiting period for subsidized coverage for cancellation of other coverage.
• Allowing electronic verification of income.
• Adding the DCF Secretary or his/her designee to the FHKC Board of Directors.
• Provides coverage for infants (ages 0-1) in full pay.
• Allows a uniform application (a requirement of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA )).
  

Sen. Nan Rich (D-Broward) was instrumental in getting SB 918 passed this year. For the past three years, a core group of lawmakers and advocates have fought to improve access to KidCare for Florida's low-income children. During the past two years, the group managed to pass KidCare in the House, only to meet opposition in the Senate. In a strange twist this year, the Senate passed the bill unanimously, only to see it struggle in the House. However, the persistent and efforts of advocates such as Diana Ragbeer, with The Children's Trust, Amy Petrila, with the Children's Board of Hillsborough County, and countless others, paid off Friday with the 116-0 vote in the House.
 
Upon witnessing passage of the KidCare bill, Vivian Alarcon, CEO of the Florida Children's Services Council, said, "It is hard to describe the incredible tenacity, long hours, and frustration that was endured to get this bill passed. There is no plaque big enough for Senator Rich."

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	Senator Rich Addressing Seniors at the Daniel Canter Senior Center
	Nan Rich with Gradutes of Weston University
	Senator Rich with the Final Graduting Class of Weston University 2010

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