NCL statement on CHIP reauthorization – National Consumers League
January 24, 2018
Contact: Carol McKay, (202) 207-2831 or carolm@nclnet.org
Washington, DC–The National Consumers League (NCL) welcomes news that Congress and the Administration have reauthorized funding for the bipartisan Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for six years, as part of the temporary spending bill to end the government shutdown. After an unprecedented 114-day lapse in funding, the nine million children and pregnant women who rely on the program for life-saving care can be confident that their coverage will not be snatched away from them, and states who had been scrambling to bridge the gap in funding may finally move towards a state of normalcy. CHIP has been integral in decreasing the number of uninsured children and ultimately improving their health outcomes, by bringing access to regular doctor visits, immunizations, essential prescription medications, and emergency services within reach. While we are pleased that this most urgent need has been filled, we will remain steadfast in ensuring that support for the health and well-being of America’s children is never again subject to partisan, political gamesmanship.
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About the National Consumers League
The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.
