Our view: Congress should re-fund CoverKids

Can Congress set aside a few of its differences over the nation’s health care system and continue a popular program that is working to make children healthier?

It should.

In October, federal funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), called CoverKids here in Tennessee, will expire. The expiration could take insurance coverage away from about 68,000 children in the state, and about 8 million across the country.

The program, first enacted in 1997, extends insurance coverage to low- and moderate-income families who do not qualify for Medicaid and cannot afford other health insurance options (CoverKids is available for families of four with income under $59,618 annually). For all intents and purposes, it was the first Medicaid expansion program.

When CHIP expired for the first time, in 2007, Congress passed legislation to double the number of children covered, President George W. Bush twice vetoed that expansion, which had broad bipartisan support but was 13 votes short of overriding the president’s veto.

After President Barack Obama was elected, the program was renewed and expanded for five years in February 2009.

Time flies. CHIP requires re-funding, but the political climate has changed since the act passed easily in both the House and Senate. (Both Sen. Lamar Alexander and Sen. Bob Corker voted in favor of the legislation.)

Given the changed climate, the congressional committees that oversee the re-funding authorization have reached out to the nation’s governors, asking in a letter for their feedback on “whether and how the program should be extended, and what, if any, additional policy changes should be made.” Both the Republican and Democratic leaders of the committees signed the letter.

Alexander, who survived a surprisingly close and tough primary against tea party favorite state Rep. Joe Carr, R-Lascassas, was coy in his statement supporting the congressional spreading of blame to the governors. “Insight from governors will be critical in best serving children in Tennessee and across the country,” he told The Tennessean.

His comment is a good indication of the challenge re-funding may face in 2014’s contentious Congress.

Fifth District Rep. Jim Cooper, a Democrat, minced few words. “CHIP makes sure health insurance is available and affordable for millions of children,” Cooper said. “Without it — and especially if Tennessee fails to expand Medicaid — many children could lose coverage. No one wants that.”

Alexia Poe, director of communications for Gov. Bill Haslam, said the governor would respond “appropriately” to the request for input.

“Generally, we expect the governor will ask for funding to be continued,” Poe wrote in an email. She also said the governor hoped Congress would focus on how CHIP integrates with other aspects of the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid.

CHIP has been a cost-effective way to make sure that children get preventive care, including dental coverage, which improves health and lowers the long-term cost of health care.

Certainly, all government programs can be improved but, most importantly, the governor should follow through with a recommendation to re-fund the program. Tennessee’s children deserve that support.