CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Joint Resolution
No. 15
Introduced by Senator Dodd
(Coauthors: Senators Allen, Atkins, Beall, Bradford, Galgiani, Glazer, Hernandez, Hertzberg, Hill, Jackson, Lara, Leyva, McGuire, Mitchell, Newman, Pan, Portantino, Roth, Skinner, Stern, Wieckowski, and Wiener)
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January 03, 2018 |
Relative to the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SJR 15, as introduced, Dodd.
Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
This measure would urge the United States Congress to act swiftly to reauthorize the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for at least 5 years, as specified.
Digest Key
Fiscal Committee:
NO WHEREAS, Approximately 1.3 million, or 13 percent of, California children up to 18 years of age, receive health care through the joint federal-state Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP); and
WHEREAS, CHIP enables California children living in families with incomes of less than 266 percent of the federal poverty level to receive health checkups, preventive care, and prompt treatment for illnesses; and
WHEREAS, Good health is essential for children to stay in school and be ready to learn, grow, and become productive citizens; and
WHEREAS, CHIP, created in 1997, has been regularly reauthorized by the United States Congress with strong bipartisan support; and
WHEREAS, CHIP’s most recent reauthorization lapsed in September of 2017, resulting in an ongoing halt of federal funding for critical children’s health services; and
WHEREAS, California provides CHIP services through its Medi-Cal program, with generous federal support most recently equating to 88 percent of program costs; and
WHEREAS, California, pursuant to the federal Affordable Care Act, is legally obligated to keep the program operating through most of 2019; and
WHEREAS, The halt in federal CHIP funding could cost California as much as $2.4 billion dollars if the United States Congress fails to reauthorize the program; and
WHEREAS, This significant loss of federal funding is likely to result in fewer covered children, fewer health services, or a combination of both, as soon as March of 2018; and
WHEREAS, There is widespread, bipartisan support for reauthorizing CHIP; and
WHEREAS, All children throughout California and the entire United States of America deserve accessible, quality health care; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and the Assembly of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature urges the United States Congress to act swiftly to reauthorize CHIP for at least five years; and be it further
Resolved, That federal funding should be at the most recent match rate of 88 percent of program costs; and be it further
Resolved, That federal funding should not come at the expense of other funds upon which the state, counties, and nonprofit entities rely to protect and promote the health of our communities; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, and to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States.