Governor Wolf Recognizes 25th Anniversary of Children’s Health Insurance Program, Urges Reauthorization

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, Dec. 1 -- Gov. Tom Wolf, D-Pennsylvania, issued the following news:

Governor Wolf today recognized the 25th anniversary of the Children's Health Insurance Program and urged lawmakers in Washington to reauthorize funding for this vital program. A press event detailing the progress and importance of CHIP for Pennsylvania children, expectant mothers, and families will be held at 10 a.m. today at the Penn State Children's Hospital in Hershey. Acting Secretary for the Department of Human Services Teresa Miller will host the event along with hospital executives, stakeholder groups and CHIP families.

"There are 178,000 children in Pennsylvania who receive necessary health care coverage thanks to CHIP, which for 25 years has been focused on helping children and families stay healthy," Governor Wolf said. "Washington has spent months ignoring the need to reauthorize this program. That must stop now. CHIP receives consistent bi-partisan support and Congress needs to act now before states such as Pennsylvania run out of funding and children are left without care."

At the Penn State Children's Hospital event, DHS secretary Teresa Miller will offer the administration's perspective on how CHIP is helping Pennsylvania children and families. Also in attendance and speaking will be Alan Brechbill, President of Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center; Dr. Leslie Walker-Harding, Chair of Pediatrics, Penn State Children's Hospital; and representatives of the PA Partnerships for Children, Pennsylvania Health Access Network, and several CHIP families.

The event is today at 10 a.m. in the lobby of the Penn State Children's Hospital, 600 University Drive, Hershey.

For more information on CHIP in Pennsylvania, visit CHIPCoversPAKids.com.

For Governor Wolf's statement on CHIP reauthorization, visit governor.pa.gov.