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.

Enrollment in the program has increased in recent years around the state, though it has taken a slight dip in the county — decreasing from 2,522 in January 2014 to 2,080 this month, according to the department.

Money for the program in Pennsylvania is expected to dwindle within months unless U.S. Congress also acts, officials say.

Senate action needed

The Championing Healthy Kids Act, which would reauthorize the program passed Nov. 3 on a House vote 242-174. Congress had a Sept. 30 deadline to re-authorize the program.

Rep. Mike Kelly, R-3rd District, 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.

Senators Bob Casey, D-Pa., Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, held a news conference Thursday in Washington at which they urged Republican leadership to call for a vote on the bill to re-authorize CHIP.

“The silence from Republicans on this is deafening. These children deserve to have peace of mind and their families need to have peace of mind to know they are going to have health insurance coverage,” Casey said.

He noted that the Senate Finance Committee, which he sits on, passed the Keep Kids' Insurance Dependable and Secure Act bill with bipartisan support in October, but no vote has been called on the floor of the Senate.

“It's being held up, I guess as a negotiation tactic. Children's health care should not be subject to any deal or any leverage on other issues,” he said.

Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., also sits on the finance committee and was the lone member to vote against the bill in October. Toomey cited concerns about the money being used as a “slush fund” for programs other than children's health care, according to media reports.

Controversial coverage

If funded, the program will continue to cover gender reassignment procedures in Pennsylvania — a fact that was controversial among lawmakers.

State Sen. Scott Hutchinson, R-21st, was one of six senators to vote against the bill earlier this week.

In an interview, he said that he and other senators are opposed to a change to the program made by the governor last year.

“I think CHIP is a good program. It is something I have voted in favor of many times. Unfortunately, at this time around a year ago, Gov. Wolf unilaterally decided to extend benefits to pay for transgender sex change operations,” Hutchinson said.

The state Senate had approved the bill in October with an amendment added by state Sen. Don White, R-41st, prohibiting the use of funds for sex change procedures.

“This program provides vital health care services for Pennsylvania's children. It is irresponsible to allow its limited resources to be used for sex change procedures,” White said in a news release in October.

The state House approved the bill unanimously, but removed the amendment.

Hutchinson said his most recent vote was not to oppose CHIP, but against concurring with the House's removal of the amendment.

White voted in favor of the amendment-free bill, which passed 43-6. He did not return calls for comment this week.