<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1CPWWm_1GxXkwMY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1CPWWm_1GxXkwMY00" width="400" height="225" ><p>CHARLESTON, W.Va., (WCHS) — The life and legacy of political giant Jay Rockefeller extended across party lines. One of his greatest achievements came through CHIP, which provides essential health care for working families.</p><p>"Before the CHIP program, there were millions of children out there with no health insurance, and Jay Rockefeller recognized this,” said Dr. Joseph Evans, a pediatrician for Marshall Health Network in Cabell County.</p><p>In the early 1990s, Joseph Evans remembers taking part in a health care roundtable discussion with then U.S. Sen. Rockefeller and 20 other doctors.</p><p>"I think he saw the need, and I think, I don't know, but I think that inspired him to take care of children and try to solve problems,” Evans said. </p><div style="position:relative;width:100%; height:0; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eVvT2rD4TVg?enablejsapi=1&version=3&playerapiid=ytplayer" frameborder="0" style="width:100%; height:100%;top:0; left:0; position:absolute"></iframe></div><p>In 1997, Sen. Rockefeller became the lead sponsor for legislation that created the Children's Health Insurance Program.</p><p>For Ellen Allen, the executive director of West Virginia Affordable Health Care, it created a lifeline for families who didn't qualify for Medicaid but couldn't afford private insurance.</p><p>“A lot of times people wouldn't get treated until they were so sick that they ended up in an emergency room,” she said. “That should never happen in a country as wealthy as ours. I don't care what state you live in."</p><p>Other area hospital staff have noticed a difference as well over the years.</p><p>“The last thing that Rockefeller wanted to see was these kids go without treatment, without dental care, without eye care, so it's been very valuable across the state for many, many years,” said Dr. Tom Takubo, the executive vice president for WVU Medicine.</p><p>The program gradually picked up steam, and now more than 200,000 kids are covered by either CHIP or Medicaid in West Virginia, driving the uninsured rate below 5%.</p><p>"What's happened over time was more people became aware of it and more people enrolled, and it's become a very powerful health strategy for low-income children,” Evans said. “This is bigger than West Virginia even. The whole country has benefited. He's got quite a legacy he's left here for children, and what a way to be remembered."</p><p>Allen noted a healthy childhood contributes to success later in life. </p><p>“That sets the tone for how healthy a child will be in their lifetime, how well they'll participate in school, how they'll participate in the labor force,” she said. “It really just set the foundation for a really meaningful and productive life."</p></div></body>

Block Source: wchstv.com

Misinformation

Clickbait

Old or repetitive news

Explicit content

Location not relevant

CHARLESTON, W.Va., (WCHS) — The life and legacy of political giant Jay Rockefeller extended across party lines. One of his greatest achievements came through CHIP, which provides essential health care for working families. "Before the CHIP program, there were millions of children out there with no health insurance, and...

'Crowning achievement': Inside Jay Rockefeller's lasting CHIP legacy

NewsBreak

CHARLESTON, W.Va., (WCHS) — The life and legacy of political giant Jay Rockefeller extended across party lines. One of his greatest achievements came throu

'Crowning achievement': Inside Jay Rockefeller's lasting CHIP legacy

Comments