The Senate Banking & Insurance Committee yesterday approved legislation that would extend the life of the state’s Children’s Health Insurance Program – also knows as the CHIP Program – while prohibiting the use of CHIP funds for sex change procedures,
By a bipartisan 14-1 vote, the two-year extension was sent to the full Senate for consideration. It extends the program to December 31st, 2019 and clarifies the exemption from sex change procedures. That amendment was introduced committee chairman Don White, who emphatically stated that it is “completely inappropriate” for the program to pay for sex change operations for children.
“I believe that is a position that is strongly endorsed by a vast majority of Pennsylvanians,” said Senator White. “I strongly support CHIP. 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.”
Senator White said the proposed restriction for CHIP is in line with current state regulations that prohibit the use of Medicaid funding for sex change procedures.
CHIP is supported by both state and federal funding and provides insurance coverage to uninsured children and teens up to age 19 whose families earn too much to qualify for Medical Assistance, but cannot afford private insurance. There are about 175,000 Pennsylvania children enrolled in CHIP.
[xyz-ihs snippet=”ST-Bank”]
