[countup date=”01 October 2017″ link=”false”]

CHIP expired October 1st

What is CHIP?

CHIP is the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Established in 1997 by Congress, the program provides health insurance for children from low- and middle-income families who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but have limited access to private insurance.

 

Why does it matter?

CHIP provides healthcare to approximately nine million children across the country. As a result of CHIP, the uninsured rate for children dropped from 14% to 5% between 1997 and today.

For more information on CHIP, including eligibility requirements, click here.

DSH expired October 1st

What is DSH?

Many rural and safety net hospitals provide care for a large number of uninsured and underinsured patients.

These safety net and rural hospitals receive funding to help offset the uncompensated costs of care. These are called DSH payments—or Disproportionate Share Hospital payments.

 

Why does it matter?

DSH hospitals have a low number of patients with private insurance, so they cannot shift these losses to insurance providers.

Without DSH funding, these hospitals would be forced to reduce services, lay off staff, or close entirely—all devastating options for the communities they operate in.

To learn more about DSH, click here.