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CHIP funding renewed for 6 years
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After 4 months without a permanent solution for funding, the Children’s Health Insurance Program received monetary support for the next 6 years on Monday, Jan. 22.
This funding was passed through legislation that would reopen the federal government after the shutdown occurring on Jan. 20. The bill signed by President Donald J. Trump also includes funding for the federal government until Feb. 8.
“With [the] passage of funding for CHIP, the families of nearly 9 million children and their doctors can finally take a deep breath,” Colleen Kraft, MD, FAAP, president of the AAP, said in a press release. “After 114 days of worry, the AAP welcomes [the] bipartisan Congressional action to extend CHIP funding for 6 years.”
On Dec. 21, 2017, Congress created a short-term patch of $2.85 billion, which was deemed inadequate to support the health insurance program, which raised concern in many organizations. This confusion was explained in a statement issued by several pediatrics-focused organizations, including the AAP.
“Now that Congress has acted on CHIP, we urge a similar bipartisan approach to the other pressing child health issues that remain unresolved, such as the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program, which serves at-risk pregnant women and parents with young children,” Kraft said in the release. “We also call on lawmakers to find a permanent solution that will allow Dreamers — immigrants brought to the United States as children and who are now young adults — to remain in the U.S.”
“[This] action was an important step forward for children and families,” she continued. “As always, we stand ready to work with elected officials at all levels of government to advance policies that are most supportive of children and their families.” – by Katherine Bortz
Resources:
CHIP Renewed for Six Years as Congress Votes to Reopen Federal Government
AAP Statement on Passage of Funding for CHIP