TEXCARE PARTNERSHIP: TEXAS ENROLLMENT OUTPACES OTHER STATES

RADIO NEWS PACKAGE
RUNS: 55 SECONDS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(LOCAL NEWS ANCHOR'S INTRO):
THE STATE OF TEXAS OUT-PACED OTHER COMPARABLE STATES' START-UP PERFORMANCE IN ENROLLING UNINSURED CHILDREN IN THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM. BOB BUCKALEW REPORTS FROM AUSTIN.

(REPORTER):
SIX MONTHS AGO, TEXAS LAUNCHED A MAJOR INITIATIVE. TO SIGN UP THOUSANDS OF UNINSURED CHILDREN FOR HEALTH INSURANCE.  NOW, TEXAS HAS ENROLLED 23 PERCENT OF THE CHILDREN IN THE STATE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM . THAT'S OVER 110,000 ENROLLED IN ONLY SIX MONTHS. JASON COOKE, THE TEXAS CHIP PROJECT DIRECTOR, SAYS ANY FAMILY WITH UNINSURED CHILDREN CAN APPLY.

(COOKE ACTUALITY)
 "OUR GOAL IS TO GET 428-THOUSAND KIDS ENROLLED BY A YEAR FROM THIS FALL AND IT'S A TALL ORDER, BUT WE KNOW THAT THE COMMUNITIES ARE GOING TO PULL TOGETHER. WE KNOW THAT EVERYBODY IN THIS STATE REALIZES THIS IS A GOAL THAT'S ABOVE RIVALRIES AND ABOVE POLITICS. IT'S ABOUT THE KIDS."

(REPORTER):
COOKE SAYS FAMILIES CAN APPLY OR LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM BY CALLING THE TOLL FREE: NUMBER: 1-800-647-6558.  THIS BOB BUCKALEW REPORTING FROM AUSTIN.