Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Chairman Ken Martin wrote the following column in the St. Cloud Times calling on Republicans to restore funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Amid frantic efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, the Republican-controlled U.S. Congress missed the deadline to renew funding for this critical program, which provides health coverage to 125,000 children in Minnesota.
Republicans must restore CHIP funds
While Republicans temporarily called off efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, they unfortunately still managed to jeopardize the health care of millions of Americans.
They were so busy trying to ram through a repeal bill that they dropped the ball on providing health coverage for nearly 9 million kids. The Republican-controlled Congress failed to renew funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program by its Sept. 30 deadline.
This program provides comprehensive, affordable health insurance for low-income children not covered by Medicaid. CHIP is one of the few federal programs that has enjoyed strong bipartisan support since its creation in 1997.
Minnesotan families count on CHIP. The program helps pay for doctor’s visits, immunizations and dental care for more than 125,000 children in Minnesota. It provides parents with the relief that comes from knowing their child can see a doctor and lead a healthy life. The program’s funding also pays for care for roughly 1,700 low-income pregnant women in our state.
Congress was closing in on a deal to extend CHIP funding last month. But all that work came grinding to a halt as Republicans fixated on ramming through a health care repeal bill before Sept. 30. The health of millions of children fell to the wayside.
If funding isn’t restored soon, doctors will have to start turning young patients away. The situation is particularly dire here in Minnesota. Our state’s program is already running dry. Minnesota’s Department of Health Services reports it will have to take “extraordinary measures” to continue providing children coverage through October.
The health of thousands of Minnesota kids hangs in the balance. Democrats stand ready to work with the Republican majority to fund this critical program. Republicans must make up for the time they wasted, do the right thing, and take immediate action to protect Minnesota kids.