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Sent Via Electronic Communication

Chairman Walden:

On behalf of the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), I write to express ACAP’s support for the Helping Ensure Access for Little Ones, Toddlers, and Hopeful Youth by Keeping Insurance Delivery Stable Act of 2017 (the HEALTHY KIDS Act), a bill to extend funding for five years for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). As you know, ACAP represents 61 member plans in 30 states serving more than 20 million Americans receiving coverage through Medicaid, CHIP, Medicare Advantage D-SNPs, and the Health Insurance Marketplaces. Our members serve almost 1 of every 2 Medicaid enrollees in managed care, and our qualified health plan (QHP) members have seen substantial increases in coverage provided to enrollees in the Marketplaces nationwide. Collectively, our Safety Net Health Plan members serve nearly half of a million enrollees in stand-alone CHIP programs as well as many additional children in Medicaid expansion CHIP. We view participation in this important program as a key part of our mission.

In September, ACAP wrote to House and Senate leadership asking Congress to ensure that none of the nearly 9 million children covered by CHIP experience a disruption in health care coverage. ACAP also expressed our hope that Congress would allow for an open discussion and collaboration among all stakeholders as part of the process to extend CHIP funding. We thank the House Energy and Commerce Committee for holding this markup and see it as an important step forward.

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