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President signs SCHIP bill

Patient Financial Services Weekly Advisor, February 6, 2009

An estimated 4 million children will have federally-funded healthcare thanks to a bill signed by President Barack Obama this week, CNN reports.

The new law expands the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) by about $35 billion over the next five years.

"We fulfill one of the highest responsibilities that we have -- to ensure the health and well-being of our nation's children," Obama told a White House gathering, CNN reports.

A 62-cent-per-pack increase in the federal tax on cigarettes will fund the program.

"This is a day worthy of celebration. There can be no greater cause ... than protecting the well-being of our nation's children," New Jersey Rep. Frank Pallone, the legislation's primary House author, said.

Opponents say this opens more doors for illegals to healthcare through taxpayers.

"This will go out of control just like all the other [entitlement] programs have, and our children will pay," Rep. Jack Linder, R-Georgia, warned during the House debate Wednesday.

Read the full story by CNN.

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