Wolf signs Pa. CHIP bill, but Congress still needs to act
Pennsylvania's Children's Health Insurance Program will continue to cover sex change operations, though the entire program is still in jeopardy without federal funding.
The federal program, known as CHIP, is administered by the states and provides health insurance to children whose families don't qualify for Medicaid, but can't afford coverage on their own.
The program costs about $450 million per year, though 90 percent of that is covered by the federal government, according to Gov. Tom Wolf, who on Friday signed the state legislation that will continue the program in Pennsylvania.
There are about 175,000 Pennsylvania children enrolled in CHIP, according to the state Department of Human Services.
Money for the program in Pennsylvania is expected to dwindle within months unless U.S. Congress also acts, officials say.
The Championing Healthy Kids Act, which would reauthorize passed a vote of the House 242-174 Nov. 3. Congress had a Sept. 30 deadline to re-authorize the program.
Rep. Mike Kelly, R-3rd Distrct, voted in favor of the bill, which is awaiting action in the senate.
“Rep. Kelly strongly supports reauthorizing the CHIP program. In fact, the congressman and his House colleagues passed a bill last month to extend CHIP funding for five years,” according to a statement from his office.
