Senators Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts and Orrin G. Hatch of Utah have announced a shared set of principles intended to guide the reauthorization of the State Children Health Insurance Program (CHIP). As the original authors of the 1997 CHIP bill, both senators expressed a commitment to helping states provide insurance for children in families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford private insurance.
Senator Hatch noted that while more than 6.6 million children were enrolled in CHIP last year, estimates suggest between 2 million and 2.8 million eligible children remain uncovered. He stated that providing coverage for these children should be a top priority because early healthcare access influences quality of life in adulthood.
Senator Kennedy emphasized that the program provides effective healthcare across every state and noted that many children still suffer from preventable illnesses. The senators developed these principles to guide legislation that would fulfill the promise of affordable, quality care for all children in need.
The proposed principles include several key initiatives:
Increasing resources for outreach to eligible populations, including those in rural areas, inner cities, and minority communities.
Simplifying the enrollment and renewal process to remove barriers for families.
Adopting national pediatric quality standards based on S. 1226, the Children's Health Care Quality Act.
Supporting state efforts regarding nutrition, physical activity, mental health services, and oral health.
Evaluating the five-year exclusion of lawful immigrant children to allow states the option of coverage.
Allocating funds based on individual state needs rather than the current system.
To fund the CHIP reauthorization, Hatch and Kennedy support an increase in the tobacco tax. They have shared these principles with Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, Ranking Member Chuck Grassley, and Finance Subcommittee on Health Chairman John Rockefeller. The CHIP program was established as part of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 and provides states with federal matching funds that are significantly higher than those provided through Medicaid.
