Governor speechless over Bush child health insurance change


Published/Last Modified on Friday, August 24, 2007 2:16 PM MDT


PHOENIX (AP) _ Gov. Janet Napolitano said Wednesday she was left speechless by new Bush administration rules for a popular children's health insurance program used by Arizona and other states.


The rules say states can't loosen income-eligibility standards to make children of additional families eligible unless they restrict enrollment of children who already have insurance and sign up at least 95 percent of children already eligible.

``I was just speechless when I heard about it,'' Napolitano said during her weekly availability with reporters.

The effect of the rules will mean fewer children will be covered, not more, according to Napolitano. ``I don't know what island they're on,'' she said.

In a letter sent late Friday to state officials, the administration said the changes are needed because states are expanding their programs to the point that families drop their private coverage.

The rules could stand in the way of another attempt by Napolitano, a Democrat, to loosen Arizona's eligibility standards to cover more children. The Republican-led Legislature balked at her request for additional funding to provide the state's share of the extra cost involved.

Copyright © 2012 Douglas Dispatch

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