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Sent Via Electronic Communication

Speaker Ryan and Leader Pelosi:

On behalf of the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), I write to express ACAP’s support for the Continuing Community Health And Medical Professional Programs to Improve Our Nation, Increase National Gains,Helping Ensure Access for Little Ones, Toddlers, and Hopeful Youth by Keeping Insurance Delivery Stable Act of 2017 (the CHAMPIONING HEALTHY KIDS Act), a bill to extend funding for five years for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

ACAP represents 61 member plans in 29 states serving more than 21 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.

ACAP appreciates the common-sense policies included in the CHAMPIONING HEALTHY KIDS Act. For example, ACAP believes that providing five years of funding for CHIP will ensure budget stability for states as they operate their programs, and, most importantly, will provide ongoing security for millions of American families who rely on CHIP for health care for their children. The extension of funding for several other programs – such as express lane eligibility and the maintenance of effort – similarly will help ensure that eligible children will receive the care they need. ACAP particularly appreciates this bill’s provision of $75 million through 2022 for the pediatric quality measures program. This program holds the promise to improve the measurement of the quality of care provided to CHIP-covered children. ACAP has long supported legislation requiring states to report on the Child Core Measures Set measures for Medicaid and CHIP children and differentiated by managed care, fee-for-service, and primary care case management settings (H.R.2843/S.1317, the Medicaid and CHIP Quality Improvement Act of 2017). While the CHAMPIONING HEALTHY KIDS Act does not include this language, we look forward to working with Congress on this common-sense legislation.

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