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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 9, 2016
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Jeff Van Ness, (202) 204-7515

 

THIRTY-NINE HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONS CALL ON CONGRESS TO SUPPORT 12-MONTH CONTINUOUS ELIGIBILITY IN MEDICAID AND CHIP

WASHINGTON—Thirty-nine allied health organizations recently submitted a letter to leaders in the House and Senate urging them to pass legislation that would provide for 12 months’ continuous eligibility for Americans in the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Programs (CHIP).

The legislation – H.R. 700 in the House, introduced by Reps. Gene Green (D-Texas) and Joe Barton (R-Texas), and S. 428, introduced by Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) – addresses “churn,” a phenomenon where people with Medicaid and CHIP coverage lose their eligibility because of bureaucratic paperwork issues or short-term changes in income. They often return to the program sicker than when they left, costing Federal and state taxpayers more than if they had been continuously covered.

A study from the George Washington University found that the average non-elderly adult Medicaid enrollee is covered for fewer than nine months out of the year; the average child with Medicaid coverage is enrolled for fewer than 10 months each year.

“‘Churn’ leads to worse health outcomes through interruptions in care, burdens providers and health plans with avoidable red tape, and leads to needlessly higher costs for taxpayers,” said Margaret A. Murray, CEO of the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), which organized the letter.  “It’s clear to organizations that work across the entirety of the health care system—patients, health plans, providers and others—that addressing churn is an urgent concern. The broad spectrum of groups signing this letter show exactly how urgent it is.”

The letter can be read in full at www.coverageyoucancounton.org.

Signatories to the Letter of Support for H.R. 700 / S. 428

1. ADAP Advocacy Association (aaa+)
2. AIDS Action Baltimore
3. AIDS ALABAMA
4. AIDS Alliance for Women, Infants, Children, Youth & Families
5. The AIDS Institute
6. American Academy of Family Physicians
7. American Academy of Pediatrics
8. America’s Essential Hospitals
9. Association for Ambulatory Behavioral Healthcare
10. Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness
11. Association for Community Affiliated Plans
12. Association of Clinicians for the Underserved
13. Children’s Hospital Association
14. CLASP
15. Community Access National Network (CANN)
16. Dab the AIDS Bear Project
17. Disability Policy Consortium
18. Families USA
19. Family Voices
20. First Focus
21. HIV Medicine Association
22. The Jewish Federations of North America
23. Justice in Aging
24. Lutheran Services in America
25. Medicaid Matters NY
26. National Association for Community Health Centers
27. National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
28. National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors
29. National Committee for Quality Assurance
30. National Council for Behavioral Health
31. National Health Care for the Homeless Council
32. National Health Law Program
33. National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund
34. National Patient Advocate Foundation
35. National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable
36. Nurse Family Partnership
37. Ryan White Medical Providers Coalition
38. San Francisco AIDS Foundation
39. United Way Worldwide

About ACAP
ACAP represents 60 nonprofit Safety Net Health Plans in 24 states, which collectively serve more than fifteen million people enrolled in Medicaid, Medicare, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and other health programs. For more information, visit www.communityplans.net.

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