Senate and House Health Leaders Release Draft Bill to Extend Funding for Children’s Health Insurance

Leaders Seek Thoughtful Solution to Fund Critical SCHIP Program

WASHINGTON, DC – Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT), House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee Chairman Joe Pitts (R-PA), and full committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) today released a discussion draft of legislation to extend the critically important State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Extending the program has been a priority for the congressional leaders as funding for SCHIP is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2015. Bipartisan, bicameral committee leaders last year sent letters to the nation’s governors seeking input on the program. The governors generally supported the extension of SCHIP funding and provided a number of ideas to improve the program. 

Hatch, Pitts, and Upton are soliciting feedback on the discussion draft that would extend SCHIP funding and sustain access to affordable health coverage for millions of children.

“The State Children’s Health Insurance Program is a vitally important program that has historically received bipartisan support,” commented Hatch, Pitts, and Upton. “Our governors have provided important feedback for how to strengthen this program, and we will continue to work in a thoughtful and transparent manner to provide states the certainty they need as they craft their budgets this spring. We can all come together to ensure kids have access to quality care.”

Read the complete discussion draft online HERE.

Read a one-page summary of the draft online HERE.

Read a detailed summary of the draft online HERE. 

To submit feedback on the discussion draft, contact the chairmen’s offices.

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