This bill matters because it would guarantee continuous health coverage for approximately 9.2 million children across the United States, removing the recurring threat of CHIP funding expiring. Without this bill, CHIP would continue to face periodic funding crises, potentially leading to disruptions in coverage, increased administrative burdens for states, and uncertainty for families.
By making CHIP and several related child health programs permanent, the bill ensures long-term stability for crucial services that improve children's health outcomes, access to care, and the overall efficiency of health coverage enrollment. It also empowers states with more flexibility to adapt their CHIP eligibility requirements to meet local needs, potentially expanding the program's reach to more children.
KEY PROVISIONS
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PROVISION 01
Permanently extends federal funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) starting from fiscal year 2029.
This ensures that CHIP does not expire and continues to provide health insurance to millions of children without requiring periodic reauthorization.
PROVISION 02
Makes the Pediatric Quality Measures Program, Express Lane Eligibility, and Assurance of Affordability Standard for Children and Families permanent programs.
These programs are crucial for improving child health quality, streamlining enrollment, and ensuring healthcare remains affordable for families.
PROVISION 03
Permanently extends the Outreach and Enrollment Program and the Child Enrollment Contingency Fund, providing ongoing funding for these initiatives.
This ensures continuous efforts to help families enroll their children in health coverage and provides states with financial buffers for unexpected enrollment growth.
PROVISION 04
Allows states the option to increase the maximum family income level for children to qualify for CHIP.
This provides states with greater flexibility to expand health coverage to more children based on their specific needs and economic conditions.
This bill matters because it would guarantee continuous health coverage for approximately 9.2 million children across the United States, removing the recurring threat of CHIP funding expiring. Without this bill, CHIP would continue to face periodic funding crises, potentially leading to disruptions in coverage, increased administrative burdens for states, and uncertainty for families.
By making CHIP and several related child health programs permanent, the bill ensures long-term stability for crucial services that improve children's health outcomes, access to care, and the overall efficiency of health coverage enrollment. It also empowers states with more flexibility to adapt their CHIP eligibility requirements to meet local needs, potentially expanding the program's reach to more children.
KEY PROVISIONS
AI-extracted
high
Permanently extends federal funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) starting from fiscal year 2029.
This ensures that CHIP does not expire and continues to provide health insurance to millions of children without requiring periodic reauthorization.
med
Makes the Pediatric Quality Measures Program, Express Lane Eligibility, and Assurance of Affordability Standard for Children and Families permanent programs.
These programs are crucial for improving child health quality, streamlining enrollment, and ensuring healthcare remains affordable for families.
med
Permanently extends the Outreach and Enrollment Program and the Child Enrollment Contingency Fund, providing ongoing funding for these initiatives.
This ensures continuous efforts to help families enroll their children in health coverage and provides states with financial buffers for unexpected enrollment growth.
med
Allows states the option to increase the maximum family income level for children to qualify for CHIP.
This provides states with greater flexibility to expand health coverage to more children based on their specific needs and economic conditions.
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) allotments to States
mandatory
Fiscal year 2029 and each subsequent year
$15,000,000
Pediatric Quality Measures Program
discretionary
Fiscal year 2030, then indexed annually
$12,000,000
Outreach and Enrollment Program
discretionary
Fiscal year 2030, then indexed annually
GLOSSARY
AI-written
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
A federal-state program that provides low-cost health coverage to children in families who earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford private insurance.
Title XXI of the Social Security Act
The specific section of federal law that established and governs the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
Allotments to States
The distribution of federal funds or grants to individual states to help them operate specific programs, in this case, their CHIP programs.
Fiscal Year
A 12-month period that a government or business uses for budgeting and accounting purposes. The U.S. federal fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30.
Consumer Price Index (CPI)
A measure that examines the weighted average of prices of a basket of consumer goods and services, used to track inflation and the cost of living.
Express Lane Eligibility
A policy option that allows states to use findings from other programs, like SNAP (food stamps) or TANF (cash assistance), to determine a child's eligibility for Medicaid or CHIP, simplifying enrollment.
Assurance of Affordability Standard
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTS
MAR 6, 25
Introduced in House
INTROREFERRAL
MAR 6, 25
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Rules that ensure states maintain certain standards for how much families have to pay for health coverage under Medicaid and CHIP, keeping it affordable.
