omaha.com
By Paul Hammel
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU
Published Tuesday February 7, 2012

LINCOLN — A coalition of groups is trying to breathe new life into a proposal to restore government-funded prenatal coverage for illegal immigrants.

At a noon press conference Tuesday, the coalition of religious, pro-life and health groups called for the advancement of Legislative Bill 599, which would require the state to provide prenatal coverage through its Children's Health Insurance Program.

Two years ago, federal officials told the state it could no longer provide prenatal care for unborn children of low-income women, including many who were illegal immigrants.

At that time, some lawmakers pushed to restore the services through the CHIP program. They argued that denying prenatal care would result in more birth defects and delivery problems that the state would be forced to cover since children of illegal immigrants automatically become U.S. citizens at birth and qualify for government-paid health insurance.

Some studies say that for every $1 spent on prenatal care, between $1.70 and $3.38 is saved by reducing post-birth complications.

Gov. Dave Heineman opposed the move, saying the state should not finance such coverage for women here illegally.

State Sen. Kathy Campbell of Lincoln introduced LB 599 last year, but it did not advance from the Health and Human Services Committee, which she chairs.

About 1,600 low-income women lost access to prenatal care through Medicaid in 2010. LB 599 would cost about $1.9 million in state funds and $4.4 million in federal funds per year.

Contact the writer:

402-473-9584, paul.hammel@owh.com

http://www.omaha.com/article/20120207/NEWS01/702089989