DeGette joins Energy and Commerce Dems to Take Lead on Children’s Health Insurance Program

WASHINGTON — On Thursday, Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Ranking Member Diana DeGette (CO-01) joined Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Gene Green (TX-29) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) along with every democratic member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee to introduce the CHIP Extension and Improvement Act of 2015. The legislation would extend funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for four years to protect coverage for millions of children and families, and strengthen the program by providing states with secure funding and new tools to improve enrollment and retention.

"It is vital that we act quickly to ensure access to health care for millions of low-income kids nationwide. This is a critical program that provides everything from routine check-ups to X-ray services for tens of thousands of children and pregnant mothers here in Colorado," said DeGette. "I am proud to have been a longtime champion of this program and I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this bill. Together, we can move closer to the day that no child in this country will be forced to go without health care."

"With CHIP funding set to end on September 30, 2015, Congress must act without delay to stabilize and protect this essential program," Green said. "CHIP is absolutely critical to meeting the health needs of millions of our nation's children and families. Currently, over eight million children are covered through this program and nearly 600,000 in Texas. I'm proud to stand with my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee to introduce this legislation, and I'm hopeful that members can once again come together to ensure that States are able to continue operating their programs."

In addition to providing funding for CHIP through 2019, the CHIP Extension and Improvement Act of 2015 makes a number of program improvements to reduce bureaucracy and increase state flexibility. The legislation maintains the 23 percent "bump" increasing states' matching rates and the maintenance-of-effort provision so that states do not change Medicaid and CHIP eligibility standards. Among other improvements, the legislation provides states with a permanent option to use "Express Lane Eligibility," which reduces administrative burdens for both states and beneficiaries.

"CHIP provides children across the country the high-quality and affordable healthcare services they need in order to grow up to be healthy adults. Since 1997, it has proven vital for millions of American children and their families," said Congressman Pallone. "Congress must continue funding for this essential program, so that no child loses this coverage. This legislation sends a strong message from Democrats on Energy and Commerce that we must provide states with the certainty of four more years of funding in CHIP, and I intend to work vigorously with all of my colleagues in both the House and the Senate to get this done without delay."

A Senate companion bill was also introduced Thursday by Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Bob Casey (D-PA). The bill, entitled the Protecting & Retaining Our Children's Health Insurance Program Act of 2015 (PRO-CHIP), would also extend CHIP funding through 2019.

Since it was enacted in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, CHIP has been successful in cutting the uninsured rate of children in half. CHIP remains an essential program for ensuring that coverage for children is affordable and accessible and provides age-appropriate benefits that children need.

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