Update...

We have recently contacted several key stakeholders. Below is a list of who we touched base with and why...

• Rep. John Spratt of South Carolina is one of the sponsors for the Medically Fragile Children’s Act of 2009 and helped introduce it the House of Representatives on February 23, 2009. Mr. Spratt has a long history of providing healthcare to children. In 1997, he helped create SCHIP, the program that provides health care coverage for children in families that earn too little to afford health insurance for their children themselves but too much to qualify for Medicaid. In January of this year, he joined the majority of the House of Representatives in approving the Reauthorization Act of SCHIP. His statement after this success that “No child in our country should be without medical care” illustrates his commitment in this legislation. He is currently working to expand the Children’s Health Insurance Program to all eligible children.
  
• Patrick W. Finnerty is the director of Medicaid in the state of Virginia. Considering the fact that funding must come from Medicaid for this bill, getting Mr. Finnerty to support the bill is important. Individual states must agree to sign on with the Medical Fragile Children's Act in order for those children under Medicaid to be eligible for payment supplementation.
  We emailed the House Committee on Energy and Commerce because the bill is currently before the committee. We felt that it would be beneficial to contact the committee at large in hopes of providing them more information about the bill, and to show them that the bill does have the support of the public. We hope that they will visit our blog and consider what we have to say when it comes time for the bill to be discussed by the committee.
  
• Carolyn Polakowsky, Executive Director of the Fragile Kid's Foundation was considered a valuable stakeholder for her experience in providing care to medically fragile children. The foundation assists families with grants for equipment using various referrals and organizations. This bill is important for her organization as it may be able to provide a greater degree of care for these families (that qualify for Medicaid) by eliminating mulitple referrals.
  
• Laura O. Moore, the Founder and Chief Executive of Dream House for Kids , was contacted for her efforts and contribution to the medically fragile community. Her program provides educational programs for families and caregivers, in addition to creating opportunities for community and corporate partnerships focused on improving the quality of life for these families. It also assists the development specially equipped and accessible homes. The H.R. 1117 effects Dream House for Kids in a similar fashion to the Fragile Kid's Foundation.

Unfortunately there have been no recent progress for this bill. It is still in front of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.