Dr. Johnston points out that Washington’s state CHIP program, Apple Health for Kids, covered over 66,000 children in 2016, up 44 percent from the pervious year. Nationally, the program covers nearly 9 million children.
Though CHIP funding has gotten caught up in the partisan debate surrounding healthcare policy, Dr. Johnston says politicians must look past their differences and renew the program funding that expired Sept. 30.
States rely mostly on federal money to support their CHIP programs, and unless Congress reauthorizes funding, states could have to shut down their coverage programs for low-income children by early 2018.
“Go back to the program’s bipartisan roots and provide stable, ongoing funding for another five years. The children who walk into my clinic deserve every opportunity to grow up strong and healthy, with access to any healthcare services they may require,” Dr. Johnston writes.
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