National Governors Association

Key Committee Issue

Health and Human Services Committee Home

09/17/2007

States Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)

SCHIP, a state-federal partnership, was created as part of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. At the time of enactment, Congress appropriated nearly $40 billion over 10 years to provide insurance coverage for children. States have used this grant money to expand Medicaid, develop a new program or expand an existing program that provides health insurance, or use a combination of the two approaches. Federal funding authorized under SCHIP is set to expire.

NGA Position

The Governors share the commitment of Congress and the Administration to making health insurance available to children in need. States have long been leaders in improving health care access for children. Under the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), states are using state-designed programs, Medicaid expansions, or a combination of both approaches to make more children eligible for health care coverage. The Governors stand ready to work with Congress and the Administration to ensure a timely and successful reauthorization of the program that currently provides health insurance coverage to more than six million children nationwide. Reauthorization of SCHIP must reflect the needs of states that manage and finance the program. Governors urge Congress to provide adequate, predictable funding and enhanced flexibilities for states that will allow improvements in health care and coverage for children through this critical, state-based program. To view the full NGA position, see HHS-09. The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) below.

More on this Topic:

NGA News Release: Governors Adopt SCHIP Policy

Policy References:

Testimony:

March 27, 2007
Testimony by NGA Executive Director Ray Scheppach before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health on "Insuring Bright Futures: Improving Access to Dental Care and Providing a Healthy Start for Children."

Position Letters

July 24, 2007
Letter (from 43 Governors) to Senate Majority Leader Reid, Senate Minority Leader McConnell, Speaker Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Boehner calling for the timely reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) prior to September 30, 2007.
July 24, 2007
Letter (from 43 Governors) to the President calling for the timely reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) prior to September 30, 2007
July 22, 2007
Letter (from Governors Napolitano, Pawlenty, Corzine, and Douglas) to Senate Majority Leader Reid, Senate Minority Leader McConnell, Speaker Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Boehner calling for the timely reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) prior to September 30, 2007.
July 22, 2007
Letter (from Governors Napolitano, Pawlenty, Corzine, and Douglas) to the President calling for the timely reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) prior to September 30, 2007.
June 7, 2007
Letter (from Governors Napolitano, Pawlenty, Corzine, and Douglas) to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Baucus and Ranking Member Grassley reiterating NGA's principles on SCHIP reauthorization in advance of the committee's planned markup.
June 7, 2007
Letter (from Governors Napolitano, Pawlenty, Corzine, and Douglas) to Senator Rockefeller and Senator Snowe thanking them for their bipartisan work on the reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and expressing support for the principles in their reauthorization bill (S. 1224) that match NGA's priorities.
May 9, 2007
Letter (from Governors Napolitano, Pawlenty, Corzine, and Douglas) to the House and Senate leadership on SCHIP reauthorization and the need for immediate action on shortfall funding.
March 23, 2007
Letter (from Governor Napolitano, Governor Pawlenty, Governor Corzine, and Governor Douglas) to the House and Senate leadership on consideration of the budget resolution and the supplemental appropriations bill pertaining to S-CHIP and Medicaid.
February 26, 2007
Letter (from Governors Napolitano, Pawlenty, Corzine,and Douglas) to the House and Senate leadership urging immediate action from Congress to prevent federal funding shortfalls in the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP) and ensure a timely reauthorization.
October 24, 2006
Letter (from Governor Corzine and Governor Douglas) to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Grassley and Ranking Member Baucus, and to House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Barton and Ranking Member Dingell, urging them to pass legislation this year to address the funding shortfalls expected in FY 2007 in the State Children's Health Insurance Program.