September is a big month for kids – not only are they
starting or heading back to school, but this year they also are taking center
stage in Washington as Congress heads back from its own summer recess. Funding
for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) will expire at the end of
September, meaning Congress must act swiftly to ensure continued, comprehensive
medical and dental coverage for our nation’s children.
Nationwide, CHIP covers approximately 9 million uninsured kids (and in
some cases, pregnant mothers) in families with incomes that are modest but too
high to qualify for Medicaid.
States administer the CHIP program in different
ways. Your state may have a separate CHIP program, combine the CHIP and
Medicaid programs, or include CHIP within Medicaid expansion initiatives. Although
administered by states in a variety of ways, the federal government provides
matching federal funds to all states and that funding is vital to the program’s
continued success.
Historically, CHIP reauthorization and funding have enjoyed bipartisan
support, with members of Congress working together to guarantee health care
coverage for vulnerable children. However, with the hotly-contested debates
over Affordable Care Act repeal and replace legislation, securing the future of
the CHIP program may prove significantly more challenging this time around…
Congress must tackle a significant number of important issues in short order this September.
Addressing the debt ceiling to avoid a
government shutdown, authorizing Hurricane Harvey relief, and handling a Trump
administration proposal to privatize air traffic control are all at the top of
the list. But Congress cannot lose sight the importance of CHIP.
Without a long-term solution, states will be left with
uncertainty over the future of their health care programs for kids. If CHIP
funding is not renewed, or not renewed by the end of the month, states will be
forced to make difficult decisions regarding the enrollment of the children in
their programs. Without this funding, some children will be left without any
form of medical or dental coverage.
We have seen over time that coverage leads to care and
access to appropriate dental care is vital for children. In particular, tooth
decay, the most common chronic disease among children, is degenerative without
treatment and prevention, and research shows poor oral health impacts school
performance and attendance.
But CHIP’s importance extends beyond oral health.
For
example, recent research indicates that treatment
of gum disease can lead to better overall health management—as evidenced by
lower health care costs and fewer hospitalizations—among people with common
health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes. Ultimately, Congress must
understand the gravity of their decision – coverage for children positions them
well for a lifetime of optimal health and success. Don’t let politics put this at risk. Instead, let’s collaborate
across party lines to quickly develop a sustainable plan that provides effective
coverage for children and mothers in CHIP.
September 2017 marks the start of school and the start of
what could make or break our children’s futures. This month is about ensuring
our next generation is well-positioned to achieve optimal health throughout their
lifetimes. As an organization committed to improving the oral health of all,
DentaQuest strongly urges Congress to work together on CHIP funding and
reauthorization in time to protect these vulnerable populations.
Make sure your voice is heard!
Look up your Representative or Senator
and ask them to renew CHIP funding and support long-term, sustainable solutions
to protect our children’s health care.