Obama reverses Bush SCHIP limits

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama reversed controversial Bush administration orders limiting states from expanding a low-income children's health insurance program.

Obama issued a memo reversing his predecessor's orders on the same day he signed an extension of the State Children's Health Insurance Program to include more participants in the state-run, federally funded insurance program for low-income children, The Hill reported Thursday.

Although the legislation Obama signed into law Wednesday provides more than $30 billion in additional SCHIP funding to permit states to enroll 4 million more children in addition to the 7 million already receiving benefits, it didn't specifically address Bush administration letters sent outlining its SCHIP policies in 2007 and 2008.

"These requirements have limited coverage under several state plans that otherwise would have covered additional uninsured children. As a result, tens of thousands of children have been denied healthcare coverage," Obama wrote.