The Morning Call
By: Laura Olson
As Congress debated another attempt at repealing the Affordable Care Act last week, legislators failed to meet a deadline to pay for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, creating uncertainty for a program that draws bipartisan support nationally and in Pennsylvania.
The 176,000 children enrolled in Pennsylvania — including nearly 11,000 in Lehigh and Northampton counties — won’t see any immediate effects from Congress’ failure to approve another round of funding by the Sept. 30 deadline. A spokeswoman for the state Department of Human Services says Pennsylvania’s program has enough money to continue operating until February.
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“If we get to November and it’s not done, then we’ll get pretty concerned,” said Joan Benso, president and CEO of advocacy group Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children. “Insurers will be in the position in December of being pretty darn nervous.” Benso said she was feeling optimistic, though, that legislators will take action soon on what’s been a popular program. Seventeen of Pennsylvania’s 18 U.S. House members signed a letter last week to the chamber’s top leaders in support of the program and urging a vote.
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