|
|||
|
For Immediate Release
A Conversation with Senator Brubaker Federal government approves final piece of CHIP expansion Income guidelines have been increased and more Pennsylvanians are now eligible to participate in the state's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), following final approval of the expansion by the federal government recently. CHIP is designed to provide coverage to uninsured children and teens in the Commonwealth who are not eligible for Medical Assistance or other health insurance. The coverage includes regular checkups, immunizations, well-baby visits, emergency care, hospitalizations, prescriptions, vision and dental. Effective March 1, the income limits have been dropped so that all children have access to affordable health care; however, families with higher incomes will have low monthly premiums and co-pays for some services. For more information about the eligibility guidelines as well as premiums and co-pays, or to apply for CHIP, you can visit www.chipcoverspakids.com or call 1-800-986-KIDS. Local students receive assistance from PHEAA More than 2,500 students in the 36th District were able to take advantage of Pennsylvania's state grant program in the 2005-2006 school year. I was very pleased to see that these students were awarded nearly $5.7 million in grants to help defray the costs of higher education. In addition, students in my district received another $2.2 million through other PHEAA programs, such as the PHEAA Academic Excellence Scholarship and Armed Forces Loan Forgiveness Program. I encourage any student in my district who is pursuing a post-secondary education to visit www.pheaa.org to learn more about the state financial aid for which they may be eligible. Community Spotlight A local Boy Scout troop will be celebrating two very significant milestones in the near future. Troop 142 of Lititz is preparing to commemorate its 40th year in existence, and will also be presenting its 100th Eagle Scout award on March 25. This is an incredible achievement for any Boy Scout troop, but is particularly notable in this case because there are five very active Scout troops in the Lititz area alone. Jeffrey Rinehimer can speak to the unique nature of this achievement, as he has been involved with the Scouts in some way for the past 15 years first through Friends of Scouting and Cub Scout Pack 156 in Brunnerville, and then as Scout Master of Troop 142. Both of his sons, J. Paul and Jared, received the Eagle Scout award while members of Troop 142, and even after the two finished their Scouting, Rinehimer continues on with the Troop as Assistant Scout Master. Rinehimer is not the only Assistant Scout Master whose sons have finished the Scout Program yet remain committed to Troop 142 – Al Chanko and Joe Reinhold have done the same, as has Scout Master Bill Maney. I am very impressed by all of the hard work, mentoring, leadership activities and community service that go on in all of the Boy Scout Troops in my district, and I am looking forward to joining Troop 142 to celebrate their organization's fine history. Breakfast roundtables with municipalities I will be holding a breakfast roundtable on March 15 from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the Bird-in-Hand Restaurant with representatives of Leacock, East Lampeter and Paradise townships. By doing so, I hope to open up communication between local municipalities and the state government, and I am hoping to meet with all of the municipalities in the 36th District over the next year.
| ||
|
Privacy Policy
|
|||
