news
Statement of ACAP Calling for Immediate Passage of Long-Term CHIP Funding
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 13, 2017
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Jeff Van Ness, (202) 204-7515
STATEMENT OF ACAP CEO MARGARET A. MURRAY CALLING FOR IMMEDIATE PASSAGE OF LONG-TERM CHIP FUNDING
WASHINGTON—Today, ACAP CEO Margaret A. Murray issued the following statement on the continuing efforts to secure funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP):
“ACAP applauds House Energy and Commerce Chairman Greg Walden for his strong public support for the inclusion of CHIP funding in the next government funding bill and we support his call. We appreciate his leadership on this important issue.
“It’s been 73 days since Congress has allowed funding for CHIP to lapse, and states are using the remnants of the previous funding cycle to keep their programs running. More than 9 million kids depend on CHIP for health coverage. They deserve better than the stopgap measures under which the program is currently operating. That’s why we support the approaches taken to date by the House Energy and Commerce and Senate Finance Committees, including the CHAMPIONING HEALTHY KIDS Act and the KIDS Act, which would bring five years of stability to the program.
“We urge the bipartisan leadership in the House and Senate to follow Chairman Walden and include CHIP in the end-of-year funding package. The children and families who rely on the program shouldn’t be forced to endure further delays.”
About ACAP
ACAP represents 61 nonprofit Safety Net Health Plans in 29 states, which collectively serve more than 21 million people enrolled in Medicaid, Medicare, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and other public health programs. For more information, visit www.communityplans.net or www.CHIPisUS.org.
# # #