The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provides a vital source of federal support for children’s access to quality, affordable health care.  Prompt action to extend federal funding for CHIP is crucial for the peace of mind for thousands of Wisconsin families and also for state lawmakers who need to know if they can count on that funding as they balance the state budget.

A letter from Wisconsin’s DHS Secretary, Kitty Rhoades, to members of Congress reiterated the need for Congress to reauthorize funding for the CHIP program (Secretary Rhoades’ letter can be found here, on pages 45-46). Despite this appeal from Wisconsin, as well as 38 other states across the country, Congress has yet to act and ensure that funding for state CHIP programs will be available after September.

Recently there have been some glimmers of hope. President Obama included the funding in his budget, and both parties have recognized the need to move this issue forward and have recently introduced bills.  Senator Sherrod Brown and Representative Gene Green are proposing legislation that would extend CHIP funding for the next four years while continuing, for the most part, current policies.

On the other side of the aisle, a draft bill developed by Sen. Orrin Hatch, Rep.Upton and Rep. Joe Pitts proposes major changes to the CHIP program that, according to analysis from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, undermine the program’s goals to provide accessible health care to children across the U.S. As this legislation moves forward in Congress, it’s imperative for members of both parties to work in the bipartisan fashion that initiated the formation of the CHIP program and to ensure that children don’t end up worse off.

Reauthorization of the CHIP program is urgent. Our state is in the midst of its biennial budget process, and Wisconsin legislators need to ensure that there is funding for the program going forward. If Congress isn’t going to extend the financing for CHIP, state legislators in Wisconsin and elsewhere need to be notified of that in the next month or two, while they still have options for adjusting state spending and trying to preserve health care for children.

Families also need an answer as they live in doubt over whether their children will still have coverage beyond the first month of the new school year. ( Read more about the importance of renewing CHIP funding in this Dec. 2014 Wisconsin Budget Project Blog post.)

Wisconsin has long been a leading state in ensuring access to quality health care for our children. That will continue if the legislation extending CHIP is bipartisan and does not undermine the substantial progress that Wisconsin has already make in improving health care access for the children in our state.

Sashi Gregory

Update: WCCF recently signed on to a letter of support, along with 41 other WI organizations and numerous national organizations with Wisconsin membership, in support of full funding for CHIP.  The letter, which can be accessed here, was sent to members of Wisconsin’s Congressional delegation.