The March of Dimes released the following statement from President Stacey D. Stewart on Congress’ passage of legislation to extend the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for six years:
“At last, families served by CHIP can breathe a sigh of relief – the health care benefits vital to the health of over 9 million children and 370,000 pregnant women are safe. Today’s action by Congress to extend the CHIP program for six years gives peace of mind to families that CHIP will continue providing quality, affordable coverage to pregnant women and children without interruption through at least 2025.
“The past four months of uncertainty over the fate of the CHIP program have placed severe, needless stress on vulnerable families. Congress should take steps to ensure that the future of the CHIP program is guaranteed, both for the sake of the families served by CHIP and the states that work hard to administer the program responsibly. The March of Dimes calls upon Congress to take up legislation in the coming months that would extend the CHIP program permanently to ensure that this situation is never repeated.”