Cause of death: Bureaucratic failure

For too many of the nine million uninsured children in America, the lack of health coverage can literally mean the difference between life and death.

Children are dying because their health coverage under Medicaid or the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHlP) ran out, was not renewed in a timely manner or simply does not cover the services a child needs. Some of these deaths occurred because attempts to gain access to health care are ensnarled in red tape. The impact of this oppressive bureaucracy on children is tragically illustrated by the death of Devante Johnson of Houston, Texas.

Tamika Scott, Devante's mother, didn't plan to rely on government supported …