Letter to House, Senate Leadership Urges Bipartisan Solution to Funding CHIP

Washington, DC – Nearly 100 members of Congress, led by Representatives Diana DeGette (D-CO), André Carson (D-IN) and Beto O'Rourke (D-TX), today sent letters to top House and Senate leaders on both sides of the aisle urging bipartisan cooperation in finding a way to responsibly extend funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program, which was allowed to lapse on September 30.

"CHIP is a critical program that provides health coverage to millions of children and must be reauthorized immediately," the lawmakers wrote to House Speaker Paul Ryan, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. "It does not make sense, however, to pass any legislation that simultaneously harms children and families by undermining other important health programs. No one should have to lose coverage for others to maintain it."

The House has passed partisan a bill that further funds CHIP at the expense of other health programs for America's vulnerable populations; Senate legislation has not yet come up for a vote. Signed by 99 House members, the letter advocates immediately renewing CHIP funding while simultaneously protecting the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, Medicaid and other health programs that Americans rely on to stay healthy, see a doctor and get the care they need.

"CHIP has a long history of bipartisan support," it noted. "Unfortunately, the recent bill passed by the House deviated from this commendable legacy. … This bill weakens coverage for too many Americans, cutting funding for financial assistance for middle- and working-class Americans who purchase subsidized coverage in the Marketplaces under the Affordable Care Act. It also reduces the Prevention and Public Fund by more than $6 billion, crippling programs that improve access to vaccines for children, opioid treatment, youth suicide programs, and diabetes prevention services. There is broad, bipartisan agreement on a policy to extend CHIP for five years, but neither chamber of Congress has yet scheduled a vote to do so without also including policies that would undermine care for millions of Americans."

Nine million children across the country rely on CHIP, which has played a fundamental role in lowering the uninsured rate among children from 25 percent in 1997 to less than five percent today. CHIP provides comprehensive, low-cost health coverage for services including routine check-ups, immunizations, doctor visits, prescriptions, dental and vision care, and emergency services.

With the expiration of federal funding for CHIP at September's end, many states that have since temporarily turned to reserves or other resources are now preparing to terminate children's health coverage. Families across the season are starting the holiday season with notices in the mail that they may lose CHIP coverage.

A copy of the letter is here, and the text is below.

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December 7, 2017

Dear Leader McConnell, Leader Schumer, Speaker Ryan, and Leader Pelosi:

We write to urge House and Senate leadership to work together to urgently and responsibly extend funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) without the inclusion of harmful provisions that would reduce coverage among people who get health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, and Medicaid. CHIP is a critical program that provides health coverage to millions of children and must be reauthorized immediately. It does not make sense, however, to pass any legislation that simultaneously harms children and families by undermining other important health programs. No one should have to lose coverage for others to maintain it.

A bipartisan framework is the surest and most responsible path to quickly reauthorize CHIP. After all, CHIP has a long history of bipartisan support, and was the byproduct of a bipartisan agreement in 1997 on the importance of investing in our children's care. Unfortunately, the recent bill passed by the House deviated from this commendable legacy. The highly partisan bill seeks to provide healthcare for some at the expense of others, undermining CHIP's mission. This bill weakens coverage for too many Americans, cutting funding for financial assistance for middle- and working-class Americans who purchase subsidized coverage in the Marketplaces under the Affordable Care Act. It also reduces the Prevention and Public Fund by more than $6 billion, crippling programs that improve access to vaccines for children, opioid treatment, youth suicide programs, and diabetes prevention services. There is broad, bipartisan agreement on a policy to extend CHIP for five years, but neither chamber of Congress has yet scheduled a vote to do so without also including policies that would undermine care for millions of Americans.

A number of organizations devoted to the health care of Americans support legislation that extends funding for CHIP and have also expressed opposition to the offsets included in the House bill. The March of Dimes stated that it "opposes the decision to fund important public health priorities…with monies from the Prevention and Public Health Fund." The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) found it "disappointing that this legislation includes offsets that undermine our communities' access to coverage and services." The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids expressed in a letter that "reauthorization of CHIP and funding for community health centers need not come at the expense of our nation's investment in prevention." And according to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, the bill would result in up to 688,000 Americans losing insurance in the individual market, and "would hurt low- and moderate-income individuals and families who miss a payment or even part of a payment for any reason, such as a costly home or car repair."[1] Leadership must not take these concerns lightly, and work together to not incorporate damaging offsets opposed by so many.

Nine million children rely on CHIP, which has played a fundamental role in lowering the uninsured rate among children down to a record 4.5 percent.[2]^,[3]CHIP provides comprehensive, low-cost health coverage for services including routine check-ups, immunizations, doctor visits, prescriptions, dental and vision care, and emergency services. Federal funding for CHIP expired over two months ago, and as a result, many states across the country are preparing to terminate children's health coverage. As families begin receiving notices that they may lose CHIP coverage, they will undoubtedly be left worried and wondering how they will pay for their children's care.[4]^,[5]

We must not continue to delay – every additional day puts children at risk for losing access to these core health services. While we are encouraged by ongoing discussions regarding the program, it is long past time for Congress to act together in this endeavor. The continuing uncertainty leaves states unable to adequately plan their budgets, and, moreover, too many are being forced to prepare for the worst case scenario: abandoning our mutual commitment to children's health.

Families throughout the country are depending on us to ensure that their children have healthcare coverage. We all share a commitment to promoting the well-being of children in our country, and we look forward to promptly considering bipartisan legislation to extend funding for CHIP.