ADA signs joint letter urging passage of CHIPP Act

Legislation would make Children’s Health Insurance Program permanent

The ADA and 187 other federal, state and local groups signed a joint letter to Congressional leadership in support of the Children’s Health Insurance Program Permanency Act, which would make the Children’s Health Insurance Program permanent.

CHIP provides affordable health coverage to children in working families who earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid, but can’t afford private insurance. It provides health care services like preventative care, vaccinations, dental, vision care and other necessary treatments.

The groups stated that CHIP has had a 25-plus-year impact on improving children’s health outcomes, providing families with financial security and ensuring equitable access to health care.

The Nov. 7 letter highlights some of CHIP’s contributions, such as reducing the number of uninsured children, safeguarding children’s health, promoting prevention and early intervention, reducing health disparities, promoting academic success and relieving financial burden on families. 

“The CHIPP Act secures access to quality, affordable health care coverage for millions of the nation’s children, offering families stability and peace of mind while eliminating the fear and anxiety that arises with temporary funding extensions and the threat of the program’s discontinuation,” the letter reads.

The letter also said that making the CHIP Act permanent is “long overdue” and would put it on par with other federal public health insurance programs. It goes on to say that Congress has “failed, as a body, to prioritize CHIP’s permanence,” noting that the legislation has faced repeated threats such as being vetoed twice and going unfunded for four months.  

“Congress can put an end to the recurrent funding dilemma that stands in the way of securing millions of children’s access to critical, life-saving coverage and care,” the letter reads. “We urge you to prioritize the health and well-being of the nation’s children by taking bold action to pass the CHIPP Act during the 118th Congress.”

The ADA previously signed onto a similar joint letter to Congress in the 117th Congress.