Sens. Hatch, Wyden Push Bipartisan CHIP Bill

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news:

Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today introduced the Keeping Kids' Insurance Dependable and Secure (KIDS) Act (S. 1827), bipartisan legislation to ensure stability for vulnerable children by extending funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for five years. The bill would also, over time, transition CHIP to its traditional federal-state partnership and provide additional protections for low-income children and flexibility for states.

"Introducing this legislation is an important next step toward ensuring uninterrupted funding for CHIP, providing much-needed certainty for the vulnerable children and families who rely on this critical program for health coverage," said Hatch. "I look forward to continuing our efforts to develop a smart and fiscally responsible solution. Working with my colleagues in both the Senate and House, we will push to advance this initiative and ensure the continued healthcare coverage for American children."

"This strong, bipartisan CHIP bill ensures that children and their families will have good health care and states will have the certainty they need for years to come," Wyden said. "I look forward to working with Chairman Hatch and members on both sides of the aisle to focus on this bipartisan priority and move it through Congress as quickly as possible."

The Keeping Kids' Insurance Dependable and Secure (KIDS) Act would:

* Extend CHIP funding through fiscal year (FY) 2022;

* Maintain federal matching rate at current statutory levels through FY 2019, change to 11.5 percent for FY 2020, and return to a traditional CHIP matching rate for fiscal years 2021 and 2022; and

* Create protections and flexibility under the maintenance-of-effort provision.

The full legislative text can be found here (https://www.finance.senate.gov/chairmans-news/hatch-opening-statement-at-finance-committee-hearing-on-chip).

The current reauthorization for funding will expire on Sept. 30, 2017. The Senate Finance Committee held a hearing (https://www.finance.senate.gov/chairmans-news/hatch-opening-statement-at-finance-committee-hearing-on-chip) on the future of CHIP earlier this month.

The Senate Finance Committee, the committee with the largest jurisdiction in either House of Congress, oversees more than 50 percent of the federal budget and has jurisdiction over large portions of the American healthcare system, including Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP.