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Health Coverage for All Children Campaign
CDF's Health Coverage for All Children Campaign, a national, state, and local initiative to guarantee comprehensive health and mental health coverage for all children and pregnant women in America.
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Devante Johnson
Devante, died at the age of 14, Houston, Texas: Devante was a 13-year-old boy with advanced cancer of the kidneys who went without any health coverage for four months while his mother attempted to renew his Medicaid coverage. Although his mother, Tamika, submitted at least three renewal applications beginning in February 2006—one through the financial counselor at Texas Children's Hospital—and called the CHIP/Medicaid hotline dozens of times, there was no record of Devante's case in the system when advocates contacted the call center on his behalf in August 2006. Because of a state staffing shortage, officials say his application went unprocessed. Meanwhile, Devante went without any health insurance and had to depend on clinical trials for care as his tumors continued to grow.
Only through personal intervention and extensive follow-up with the highest levels of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission was his coverage finally reinstated. He then was able to go to the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, where for a while radiation therapy helped take away his pain. After struggling courageously against his cancer, on March 1, 2007, Devante died at the age of 14 from complications of the disease. He will be remembered as a thoughtful young man who was a devoted brother and son, and who never complained about his illness.
Devante's mother tells his story.
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