FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Jack Cardinal
Community Catalyst
617-275-2923
jcardinal@communitycatalyst.org

Statement of Rob Restuccia, Executive Director of Community Catalyst, regarding the House of Representatives’ passage of H.R. 2 to extend the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

(BOSTON)— “Today, the House of Representatives took the important step of passing the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) that continues the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for the next two years. We applaud the House for taking a bipartisan approach to the important issues of the future of CHIP and the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR). We are especially pleased that the approach to CHIP maintains this successful program in its current state, rather than making harmful cuts. We urge the Senate to act quickly to pass a clean package to extend CHIP and ensure millions of children continue to have access to needed care.

“Community Catalyst is deeply committed to children and their health. Our mission is driven by the belief that all individuals, particularly the most vulnerable, must have access to high quality, affordable health care. Toward that end, we believe it is imperative that children have access to affordable, age-appropriate benefits and a robust network of children’s health providers. CHIP works alongside Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act to provide eight million children and pregnant women with affordable, high-quality health coverage.

“The House legislation, H.R. 2, is an important first step toward refunding CHIP quickly and cleanly. We are pleased that the bill will continue to improve pediatric quality and support states’ outreach and enrollment efforts related to Medicaid and CHIP. We look forward to working with the Senate to ensure its swift passage.”

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About Community Catalyst

Community Catalyst is a national, non-profit consumer advocacy organization founded in 1998 with the belief that affordable quality health care should be accessible to everyone. We work in partnership with national, state and local organizations, policymakers, and philanthropic foundations to ensure consumer interests are represented wherever important decisions about health and the health system are made: in communities, courtrooms, statehouses and on Capitol Hill. For more information, visit www.communitycatalyst.org.