The federal Department of Health and Human Services today announced final approval of a rule to allow states to cover an eligible "unborn child" under the State Children's Insurance Health Program (S-CHIP).

The new rule allows states to recognize an unborn child as a "child" eligible for services under the program, which provides medical assistance for a low-income children under age 19. The rule will go into effect when published in the Federal Register on Wednesday, October 2. The rule was originally proposed last January.

The following comment may be attributed to Douglas Johnson, legislative director for the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC): "This action by the Bush Administration means that many unborn children, and their mothers as well, are now eligible to receive proper pre-natal care as part of this children's health program. But the next question is, will pro-abortion politicians in some states cave in to pressure from pro-abortion groups who insist there is no such thing as an unborn child, and so deny this aid to mothers and their babies?"

The National Right to Life Committee is the nation's major pro-life organization, with affiliates in all 50 states.

VSHL is the Virginia affiliate of the National Right to Life Committee.