Stickland pushes feds on child coverage appeal

Gov. Ted Stickland sent a letter Tuesday to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt asking for immediate federal approval of the state’s plan to provide more low-income children with health coverage (Source: “Ohio governor wants approval to expand health insurance,” Cleveland Plain Dealer/AP, Aug. 20, 2008).

The state requested approval a year ago to cover children whose parents earn up to $63,600 a year for a family of four, or three times the federal poverty level. The request was denied and the state has been waiting on an appeal. Stickland estimates that the plan would provide coverage for an additional 35,000 Ohio children and has indicated that the state would consider a lawsuit if its appeal is denied.