U.S. Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV), as well as U.S. Reps. Ryan Costello (R-PA) and Tom Emmer (R-MN), on Friday introduced legislation to help states continue providing health care services for vulnerable children under the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
The 20-year-old program provides affordable health care coverage for children under age 19 whose families are ineligible for Medicaid and cannot get private insurance. States exhaust their CHIP funding at varying rates and CHIP has not yet been reauthorized for fiscal year 2018 creating a funding shortfall for some states.
The CHIP Stability Act, S. 2183/H.R. 4515, would keep CHIP running so that children can receive care through the end of December while the Senate considers long-term reauthorization legislation.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has limited ability to allocate funds to cover shortfalls, so legislation is necessary to allow CMS to suspend its statutory formula and use all available redistribution funds based on the need to keep CHIP programs funded until the end of December, according to the lawmakers. Costello’s office said CMS has confirmed that the legislation will provide the needed fix.
Nevada is projected to run out of CHIP funding on Dec. 15, Heller said. Costello said the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) projects Pennsylvania’s funds will be depleted in February 2018, while Emmer said Minnesota’s funding has been completely expended.
“Children’s care should not be held hostage by political disputes and that’s why I’m pushing Congress to take immediate action and pass my proposal that ensures there is no gap in funding for CHIP. In states like Nevada, CHIP is a lifeline for thousands of vulnerable children and families. Inaction is not an option,” said Heller, a member of the Senate Finance Committee.
The lawmakers stressed how crucial it is to keep CHIP funded.
“Nearly 177,000 children in Pennsylvania and millions across the country utilize CHIP making this a critically important program that we must keep fully operational,” said Costello. “While it is unfortunate this legislation is necessary, we must bridge the funding gap and I will continue to push for a long-term reauthorization of the program.”
Emmer said, “Lack of action in the Senate has forced Minnesota to find alternative funding in order to continue coverage for CHIP recipients. As one of only two states to receive a financial penalty for doing its best to serve these populations, I am proud to team up with Rep. Costello, Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman Walden, and Health Subcommittee Chairman Burgess to introduce this responsible legislation to cover vulnerable Minnesotans.”
Republicans, including Reps. Greg Walden (R-OR) and Michael Burgess (R-TX), original cosponsors of H.R. 4515, still hope to see long-term reauthorization legislation for CHIP.
“We are incredibly disappointed that the House’s CHAMPIONING HEALTHY KIDS Act, which passed with strong bipartisan support, has yet to be sent to the president for signature. In the meantime, we believe legislation that provides short-term funding to the end of December should be passed as soon as possible,” Walden and Burgess said in a joint statement.