ACAP Statement on Congress Funding CHIP for Six Years

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 22, 2018

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Jeff Van Ness, (202) 204-7515; jvanness@communityplans.net

ACAP Statement on Congress Funding CHIP for Six Years

WASHINGTON—Margaret A. Murray, Chief Executive Officer of the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), today made the following statement on the passage of the Continuing Resolution, which includes the six year funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

“We commend Congress for renewing the CHIP program for 6 years. This has been a difficult process that strained the ability of states to meet the needs of their recipients as Congress deliberated reauthorization.  We are heartened by the many substantive provisions in this bill that will improve children’s health. Throughout this long legislative process, we have always maintained that protecting CHIP will provide the kind of fiscal stability that states need, and the health security that families deserve. As we move forward from this debate, we believe that CHIP should be permanently reauthorized, so that states and families who benefit from the program can be assured that it is a dependable part of the safety net.”

“Now we call on Congress to act quickly on the long list of other health care issues of importance to ACAP, safety net health plans, and the American people. These including the reauthorization of care coordination for Medicare/Medicaid beneficiaries through the Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans, and providing stability for 9 million Americans receiving coverage through health insurance exchanges.  ACAP stands prepared to work with congress in a bipartisan way to protect people who need these programs.”

About ACAP
ACAP represents 61 Safety Net Health Plans, which provide health coverage to more than 21 million people in 29 states. Safety Net Health Plans serve their members through Medicaid, Medicare, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the Marketplace and other health programs. For more information, visit www.communityplans.net.

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