Congresswoman Issues a Statement Supporting the Medicare Access & CHIP Reauthorization Act

WASHINGTON, D.C.—(March 26, 2015)—Today, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson released the following statement regarding passage of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act by the House of Representatives:  

“Today, I was proud to vote for the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act, because I recognize the impact this bill will have on the people of Texas and throughout our country.

This bill addresses numerous key priorities that will benefit America’s children, seniors, and families. Those priorities include a permanent fix to the sustainable growth rate (SGR) that will transition Medicare from a volume-based system to a value-based system.

Successful passage of the bill will secure access to healthcare for low-income children by providing a two-year extension of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) at the same rates as the plans provided by the Affordable Care Act.  Now is the time to extend CHIP since many states, including Texas, are developing their budgets for FY 2016, and they need assurance that millions of children will not lose access to the health care they need.

The Medicare Access & CHIP Reauthorization Act provides $7.2 billion in funding for Community Health Centers (CHCs) over the next two years.  Additionally, the bill extends funding to the National Health Service Corps and Teaching Health Centers for two more years. It provides $620 million for the National Health Service Corps and $120 million for Teaching Health Centers.

While I am disappointed that that the bill includes a Hyde Amendment rider, which restricts a woman’s right to make choices about her own reproductive health, this language does not further expand the Hyde Amendment. In practice, Community Health Centers have been subject to this restriction since the Hyde Amendment was introduced and enacted each year since 1979.

While not perfect, this legislation was reached through bipartisan collaboration, and I am pleased that lawmakers were able to work together to resolve the flawed SGR formula, known as the ‘doc-fix.’ This bipartisan measure contains numerous provisions that will move both, Texas and our country forward, by providing seniors, children, and families with the level of health security they deserve.”

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U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson is the ranking member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the highest-ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure. She represents the 30th Congressional District of Texas, which includes Downtown Dallas, Fair Park, Kessler Park, Old East Dallas, Pleasant Grove, South Dallas & South Oak Cliff; all of Cedar Hill, DeSoto, Duncanville, Hutchins, Lancaster & Wilmer and parts of Ferris, Glenn Heights, South Grand Prairie, Oak Lawn, Ovilla, Uptown/Victory Park and West Dallas.

CONTACT: Yinka Robinson | (202)225-8885