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Health Care Organizations to Senate: Include Medicaid & CHIP Policies in Reconciliation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 25, 2022
CONTACT: Sara Matthews, (281) 650-2961, SMatthews@messagepartnerspr.com
HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONS TO SENATE: INCLUDE MEDICAID & CHIP POLICIES IN RECONCILIATION
National coalition urges Congress to help low-income people access affordable, high-quality health care
Seven national health care and advocacy organizations today called on U.S. Senate leaders to include Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) policies in Congress’ much-discussed reconciliation package. Experts say the measures are urgently needed to improve access to affordable, high-quality health care coverage, benefiting the health and wellbeing of people with low incomes.
“When people with Medicaid and CHIP experience gaps in their coverage, they are less likely to get the health care they need when they need it, which negatively impacts their health,” said Jennifer McGuigan Babcock, senior vice president at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans. “Amidst a pandemic, sputtering economy, and high prices, Congress must increase access to affordable, quality health care coverage for those who most need help accessing care. Now is the time to take action by including Medicaid and CHIP priorities in the reconciliation package.”
The policies would allow children to keep their Medicaid and CHIP coverage for a year, regardless of temporary changes in family income and other circumstances; require a year of postpartum coverage for people on Medicaid and CHIP who give birth; make CHIP funding permanent; minimize gaps in coverage and behavioral and physical care for people leaving jails and prisons; and increase vaccination access for adults on Medicaid.
The U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision makes including Medicaid and CHIP policies in the reconciliation package even more critical, experts say. Lack of access to reproductive care threatens to boost the United States’ already high maternal mortality rate unless Congress acts to protect women.
“Congressional action to boost access to Medicaid and CHIP coverage is urgently needed to protect the health of women and children,” said Lisa Shapiro, Senior Advisor for Strategy and Children’s Policy at Families USA.
Coalition members calling for inclusion of Medicaid and CHIP policies in Senate legislation are the American Academy of Pediatrics, Association for Community Affiliated Plans, Children’s Hospital Association, Community Catalyst, Families USA, First Focus Campaign for Children and National Alliance on Mental Illness.
The coalition previously hosted a hill briefing and sent a sign-on letter to Senate leadership urging inclusion of the Medicaid and CHIP package in reconciliation.
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About the Association for Community Affiliated Plans
The Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP) is a national trade association which represents 74 not-for-profit Safety Net Health Plans. Collectively, ACAP plans serve more than twenty-two million enrollees. For more information, visit communityplans.net.