Today the Arizona legislature approved a measure to reinstate KidsCare and the Governor has indicated that he would sign it into law. An estimated 30,000 Arizona children will gain access to affordable coverage once the state reopens KidsCare (Arizona’s CHIP plan). This is a smart investment in the future of Arizona and its children. Studies show that when children have health coverage, they are less likely to drop out of school and are more likely to grow up to be healthier, more economically successful adults.

It’s baffling that it took Arizona leaders so long to reach this conclusion as the state receives a 100% federal match through the so-called “CHIP bump.”

CCF researchers Elisabeth Burak, Tricia Brooks, Joan Alker, Kelly Whitener and others have issued four reports and blogged on this topic extensively over the past six years. When Kelly testified before the Arizona legislature in February, a committee member asked her what national researchers would do with their time if Arizona ever joined the rest of the states with fully-functioning CHIP programs. Today, we are overjoyed to have to confront that question since there are so many other issues that need to be researched as we work to fulfill our mission of improving coverage for children and families.