SCHIP has been successful overall, should be expanded says new health care opinion lead...( and they make it clear that SCHIP sho...),Health

It would cost an additional $12 billion to $15 billion over five years to maintain the current level of services provided under SCHIP. When asked how additional SCHIP expenditures should be financed, there is no clear favorite. About a third (37%) of opinion leaders say financing should come from raising federal taxes or fees, 27% say funds should be redirected from other programs and 25% say an exception should be made to the "paygo" rule for coverage of children. However, only 3% support retaining the current allocation as a financing solution.

The survey of leading health care experts with a diverse range of professional and ideological perspectives is the tenth in a series from The Commonwealth Fund, and the second conducted in partnership with the publication Modern Healthcare. Commentaries on the survey findings by New York Governor Eliot Spitzer and Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt, and a data brief authored by Fund staff, Health Care Opinion Leaders Views on Priorities for the State Childrens Health Insurance Program Reauthorization, are posted on the Funds web site.

Opinion leaders surveyed include experts from four broad health care sectors: academia and research organizations; health care delivery; business, insurance, and other health industry; and government and advocacy groups. Elected officials and media representatives were excluded. The online survey was conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of The Commonwealth Fund and focused solely on SCHIP. The survey was completed online by 170 experts.

SUCCESSES OF SCHIP

Majorities of opinion leaders feel that SCHIP has met goals such as improving quality of coverage and access to health care for children:

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