Call to Action! Urge Senator Blunt to extend CHIP funding in MO

Advocates and AAFA-STL Supporters, 

Funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) ends September of this year. Missouri's CHIP program, HealthNet for Kids, covers more than 93,000 kids in the state over the course of a year.  Without the extension of the CHIP program, over $100 million is at stake.  In a recent editorial in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, it is reported,  "Missouri uses its CHIP money to supplement traditional Medicaid and to operate a separate health program for children. Health advocates say the children enrolled in that separate program are in danger of losing their coverage if CHIP funding expires."  Click here to read the editorial in its entirety.

**Please urge Senator Roy Blunt to support legislation which will extend this health care program for kids.  A sample letter, a visual piece representing the importance of CHIP, and Blunt's contact info are all below.  

Senator Blunt's Phone: 202.224.5721

Senator Blunt's Website:  http://www.blunt.senate.gov/public/

Sample Message:

Dear Senator Blunt:

I urge you to use your leadership role as Chair of Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor HHS to expedite legislation to extend funding of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) before Missouri is forced to end this important children’s health care program in September.  CHIP covers more than 93,000 Missouri children over the course of a year and if Congress does not act to extend CHIP, as much as $122 million is at risk in 2016 with the loss of federal matching funds. 

Congress must act to extend funding for CHIP beyond September 30, 2015, and I hope you will do everything in your power to extend funding for this critical program.

Thank you.