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Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) and Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, today introduced the Stabilize Medicaid and CHIP Coverage Act to provide 12-months of continuous coverage for individuals receiving health care through Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Currently, millions of Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries are at risk for losing health coverage each year due to short-term changes in income as well as burdensome paperwork or administrative requirements. These bureaucratic burdens result in significant churn of individuals on and off Medicaid and CHIP and serve as a barrier to effective coordination of care and preventative health care.
 
“No one should lose access to health care because of bureaucratic delays,” said Congresswoman Dingell. “If we have learned anything from the recent unwinding of Medicaid continuous coverage, it’s that we need to do more to prevent people from losing coverage and slipping through the cracks due to paperwork and red tape. The Stabilize Medicaid and CHIP Coverage Act will guarantee 12-months of continuous coverage for the most vulnerable Americans, reducing Medicaid and CHIP enrollment churn and improving access to consistent healthcare that results in better health outcomes.”
 
“Democrats have made remarkable progress lowering health care costs and expanding coverage in recent years,” said Congressman Pallone. “The Stabilize Medicaid and CHIP Coverage Act is a commonsense next step to keep Americans insured with 12-months of continuous coverage when they’re enrolled in either program. I thank Congresswoman Dingell for her leadership on this bill and I look forward to continuing to work together to lower medical costs and ensure all Americans have access to care.”       
 
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 requires all states to provide 12-month continuous coverage to all children in Medicaid and CHIP beginning January 1, 2024. This legislation expands upon the progress made in that law to require 12-month continuous coverage to all adult Medicaid beneficiaries.
 
View the full text of the legislation here.