Yvette Santiago advocates for child health care
Yvette Santiago, director of community engagement at Nemours, has taken on the role of lobbyist, advocating for legislation that would provide free health care to all children regardless of their legal status.
House Bill 317, the Cover All Delaware Children Act, would require the Department of Health and Social Services to develop and operate a medical coverage program for children who are not otherwise covered, including undocumented children. The measure, which would go into effect Jan. 1, 2023, would cover children whose family income is low enough to qualify for Medicaid or CHIP coverage but is not eligible for federally funded coverage. The bill’s primary sponsor is Democratic Rep. Krista Griffith.
Santiago said the COVID-19 pandemic pointed out the differences in care between children with health coverage and those without.
“One of the silver linings of the pandemic was that it highlighted things we already knew: The disparities that really impact our most vulnerable communities … our poor communities, our black and brown communities,” she said.
Nemours Children’s Health, the only pediatric hospital in Delaware, is a member of the coalition that supports the legislation, a decision that Santiago says was not difficult.
“It is really a no-brainer. It’s not rocket science. We know that kids that get the care they need when they need it really does decrease health care costs over time,” she said.
Residence status is irrelevant to a child’s need for health care, Santiago added.
“These kids are in our state and they are Delaware children. They’re residents, their families work here and contribute to the local economy,” she said, noting they should be cared for “just like we would take care of any child.”
The legislation is working through the General Assembly and funding for the proposed program needs to be added to the state budget, Santiago explained.
“We want to pass House Bill 317 before the General Assembly finishes this year’s work June 30. We’re doing our full-court press between now and then,” she said. “We’re working hard to get this included in the budget. If we’re successful doing that, it’s just a matter of getting elected officials in the General Assembly to vote for it.”
Supporters need to urge their Delaware lawmakers to vote for HB 317, Santiago said.
“We will be reaching out to all members of the General Assembly, but we want our family and our friends … to reach out to their legislators and say, ‘We want you to support House Bill 317,’” she said.
The First State can set an example for the rest of the nation with passage of the Cover All Delaware Children Act, she said.
“We want Delaware to be among the first. We were the first state to ratify the Constitution, let’s be the ninth state to offer health care for all kids. Let’s be in the top 10.”