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The reauthorization of CHIP is now being used as a bargaining tactic in the debate over the government shutdown. A vote is expected on Jan. 22 that may resolve the issue. Update: As part of a bipartisan deal, CHIP has been reauthorized for six years.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.89″ background_layout=”light”]<\/p>\n Health Care, Reproductive Rights & Disability Rights Working Group<\/a> C2A<\/strong><\/p>\n Update 1\/22:<\/strong> <\/span>CHIP reauthorization was included in a bipartisan effort to extend the budget deadline and extract a promise from the Senate leader to hold a vote on DACA before Feb. 8. The program is now fully funded for six years.<\/p>\n The continuing resolution<\/a>\u00a0passed by Congress last week keeps the federal government funded until December 22, but it provides little more than a band-aid to the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). While some states are about to run out of funds, this provision only shifts the remaining 2017 funds to the most critical states, without supplying any new money. The highly successful Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is credited with<\/span> reducing the number of uninsured children from 14% to 4.5%<\/span><\/a> since its introduction<\/span>.<\/span><\/a> CHIP works with Medicaid, <\/span><\/a>providing insurance for children in families that earn too much to be eligible for Medicaid. In 2014, more than<\/span> 27,000 Maine children<\/span><\/a> received health insurance through CHIP. Without reauthorization, Maine will exhaust its funding by June<\/span>. <\/span>Reauthorization is especially critical for children with disabilities<\/span><\/a>. A combination of Medicaid and CHIP cover 60% of the 2.9 million children with special health care needs. In the Senate, a clean reauthorization bill cleared committee with bipartisan support, but has yet to be brought to the floor for a vote. The House also passed its own reauthorization<\/a> (supported by Bruce Poliquin), but is unlikely to get the bipartisan support it needs because it\u00a0funds CHIP by requiring some seniors to pay more for Medicare and by cutting ACA funding<\/a>. A new bill<\/a>, sponsored by\u00a0Chellie Pingree, would extend CHIP funding for five years<\/a>, and cover the cost by shifting the timing of payments to Medicaid Advantage and Part D plans.<\/span>\u00a0With a Dec. 22 budget deadline looming, voting on both bills is imminent.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Call your MoC! <\/b>Thank Pingree for co-sponsoring H.R. 4541<\/a>. If you live in CD2, ask Poliquin to support it. Tell Collins and King to make sure the Senate’s CHIP reauthorization:<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ background_color=”#00417f” module_class=”site-footer” _builder_version=”3.0.79″ custom_padding=”2px|0px|5px|0px” global_module=”845″][et_pb_row global_parent=”845″ make_fullwidth=”on” custom_width_px=”2600px” custom_padding=”22px||0px|” custom_margin=”|||” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” border_color_all=”#9e9e9e” module_alignment=”center”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image global_parent=”845″ src=”https:\/\/www.suitupmaine.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/suitup_new_new_FLAME_horiz-1.png” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ max_width=”45%” custom_margin=”||15px|” \/][et_pb_text global_parent=”845″ background_layout=”dark” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”12px” text_text_color=”#efb217″ text_letter_spacing=”1px” text_line_height=”1.5em” custom_margin=”|||”]<\/p>\n Suit Up Maine is an all-volunteer grassroots group of Mainers who work to raise awareness of and advocate for policies and legislation that promote equity and equality in civil rights, social justice, health care, the environment, education, the economy, and other areas that affect the lives of all people. We are\u00a0beholden to issues and action, not parties or politicians, and we aren\u2019t engaged in fundraising. Suit Up Maine fosters collaboration among our state\u2019s progressive groups and organizations to collectively connect, educate, and motivate Mainers to rise in non-violent resistance to a regressive agenda.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_social_media_follow global_parent=”845″ _builder_version=”3.0.89″ text_orientation=”left”]<\/p>\n [et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”facebook” url=”https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/suitupmaine\/” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ background_color=”#3b5998″ follow_button=”off” url_new_window=”on”]facebook[\/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”twitter” url=”https:\/\/twitter.com\/SuitUpMaine” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ background_color=”#00aced” follow_button=”off” url_new_window=”on”]twitter[\/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”instagram” url=”https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/suitupmaine\/” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ background_color=”#517fa4″ follow_button=”off” url_new_window=”on”]instagram[\/et_pb_social_media_follow_network]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_social_media_follow][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_sidebar global_parent=”845″ orientation=”right” area=”et_pb_widget_area_7″ background_layout=”dark” show_border=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ header_font=”Open Sans|on||on|” header_text_align=”center” header_font_size=”16px” header_text_color=”#ffffff” background_color=”#00417f” text_orientation=”center” max_width_last_edited=”off|desktop” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|||” \/][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text global_parent=”845″ background_layout=”dark” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ text_font=”|700||on|||||” text_font_size=”12px” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_letter_spacing=”1px” header_font=”|||on|||||” header_text_color=”#ffffff” max_width=”74%” module_alignment=”right” custom_margin=”||10px|” custom_padding=”||10px|”]<\/p>\n Civic Dashboard<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Email List Sign Up<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Call to Action Archive<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Get Involved<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Member Forum<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Contact<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n FAQ<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Disclaimer<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_search global_parent=”845″ button_color=”#efb217″ placeholder_color=”#ffffff” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ input_font=”||||||||” input_text_color=”#efb217″ button_font=”|600|||||||” button_text_color=”#000000″ button_line_height=”1.1em” max_width=”75%” module_alignment=”left” \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The reauthorization of CHIP is now being used as a bargaining tactic in the debate over the government shutdown. A vote is expected on Jan. 22 that may resolve the issue. HEALTH CARE, REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS & DISABILITY RIGHTS WORKING GROUP C2A<\/span><\/p> UPDATE 10\/9: <\/b>Although a clean reauthorization bill sailed through the Senate health committee last week with bipartisan support, the House\u2019s bill is another story.<\/span> Republicans want to fund CHIP by requiring some seniors to pay more for Medicare and by cutting ACA funding<\/span><\/a>. The bill passed through committee on a strict party vote. Both chambers will vote on their versions next week when Congress returns from recess. <\/span><\/p> THE BASICS THE ISSUETHE ISSUE<\/span><\/h4>\n
THE ACTION<\/span><\/h4>\n
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\nUPDATE: As part of a bipartisan deal, CHIP has been reauthorized for six years.<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1687,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"
<\/b>Funding for the Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which provides health insurance to nearly 9 million children, expired last weekend. <\/span>Tell our Members of Congress to stop playing politics with children\u2019s lives and pass a clean CHIP reauthorization bill NOW.<\/b><\/p>
<\/b>The highly successful Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is credited with<\/span> reducing the number of uninsured children from 14% to 4.5%<\/span><\/a> since its introduction<\/span>.<\/span><\/a> The state-federal partnership covers all costs for well-child check-ups, dental exams, and most other health services. <\/span>CHIP works with Medicaid, <\/span><\/a>providing insurance for children in families that earn too much to be eligible for Medicaid. While eligibility levels vary by state, nearly 90% of children covered are in families earning 200% of the federal poverty level or less ($40,480 for a family of three). In 2014, more than<\/span> 27,000 Maine children<\/span><\/a> received health insurance through CHIP. Without reauthorization, Maine will exhaust its funding by June. Some states will be <\/span>forced to reduce or eliminate coverage<\/span><\/a> before the end of the year if Congress does not act. <\/span>Reauthorization is especially critical for children with disabilities<\/span><\/a>. A combination of Medicaid and CHIP cover 60% of the 2.9 million children with special health care needs, with Medicaid\/CHIP as the sole source of coverage for nearly half of these children.<\/span><\/p>