Governors to Congress: Stabilize insurance markets, reauthorize CHIP

The National Governors Association is urging Congress to stabilize the insurance markets and reauthorize the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

“Congress must not wait any longer to renew CHIP and act to stabilize the nation’s health insurance markets. In this time of uncertainty and an ever-ticking clock, there is only one certain path to resolving these crucial issues: bipartisanship,” the association said in a statement.

Reauthorizing CHIP should be an “urgent priority,” calling the possible lapse of funding “unacceptable.” The association noted states will soon have to notify families that their children might not be covered anymore.

{mosads}Additionally, the association lauded the effort to stabilize the markets from Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.).

Alexander, the chairman of the Senate Health Committee, halted the effort last week in the midst of momentum to repeal ObamaCare but has reopened the door to a possible bipartisan effort as the repeal bill won’t get a vote this month.

The association noted the testimony of governors during a bipartisan health-care hearing that pointed to additional flexibility for states, funding key payments to insurers and a reinsurance fund to help cover the cost of sick enrollees.