Day of Action to save CHIP

[Tanuki]

From the Tennessee Healthcare Campaign:

"Monday, January 8th marked 100 days since Congress failed to extend long-term funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Congressional inaction has created a dire situation for children, families and state legislatures. The patchwork solutions from Congress fail to provide the stability needed to ensure that this successful bipartisan program can continue to be there for the 9 million children who depend on it.

As families begin a new year, they must be reassured that their children will not go a single day without health care coverage.

Congress must pass a spending bill to avert a federal government shutdown by January 19. As part of that vote, we are urging lawmakers to take immediate action and extend CHIP funding for five years.

We Need You to Call Our Senators TODAY!
1. Call and Email Senator Corker and Email Senator Alexander
2. Contact your U.S. Representative (Link to find your Representative)
3. Share the below Social Media Messages

Senator Alexander
Memphis: [phone]
Nashville: [phone]
Knoxville: [phone]
Jackson: [phone]
Tri-Cities: [phone]
Chattanooga: [phone]
Email form

Senator Corker
Memphis: [phone]
Nashville: [phone]
Knoxville: [phone]
Jackson: [phone]
Tri-Cities: [phone]
Chattanooga: [phone]
Email form

Talking Points:
Fact sheets that explain how kids are covered in Tennessee. CoverKids Tennessee and Kids Coverage Fact Sheet for Tennessee

Hello. As a constituent of Tennessee, I am calling today to urge {U.S. Senator's name/U.S. Representative’s name} to pass legislation immediately that would extend current funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for five years and maintain the bipartisan history of the program.

CHIP funding expired over 100 days ago. Now, families are facing uncertainty and entering the new year without knowing if their children will have health care coverage.

Affordable, high-quality, consistent coverage for nearly 106,000 Tennessee children is at risk without a CHIP funding extension at current levels.

The short-term solutions Congress has offered so far do not give families the relief they need so that their children can access care, and also fail to address states’ funding concerns. States and families need stability.

Please extend current CHIP funding for five years immediately. Inadequate, patchwork funding is not the answer. As families begin a new year, they must be reassured that their children will not go a single day without health care coverage.

Social Media Messages:

Hashtags to Use: #SaveCHIP (primary hashtag), #ExtendCHIP, #CHIPworks, #KeepKidsCovered

Handles for all U.S. Senators: https://twitter.com/cspan/lists/senators/members
TN Senators: @SenAlexander and @SenBobCorker

Handles for all U.S. Representatives:https://twitter.com/cspan/lists/us-representatives

Because CHIP funding has not been extended long-term, states have been forced to make difficult choices as they question the future of their CHIP programs. Children's access to coverage hangs in the balance. Congress: #SaveCHIP by extending it for 5 years!

ATTN (list @Legislatorhandles): Children and families should not have to face uncertainty when it comes to their health care coverage. It's time for Congress to #ExtendCHIP long-term. #SaveCHIP

Welcome back to work (list @Legislatorhandles)! The short-term CHIP funding that was passed before the holiday recess does not provide the stability that 106k kids in Tennessee need. It's time to #ExtendCHIP long-term! #SaveCHIP

CHIP is a bipartisan success story that 9 million children depend on. Families and states need stability, and what they’ve gotten from congressional inaction is uncertainty. Congress: #SaveCHIP now!

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Tennessee Health Care Campaign, Inc. | 1321 Murfreesboro Pike, Suite 311, Nashville, TN 37217"

[Docreed2003]

1. Excellent thread....

We must push for reinstitution if CHIP. Not just for our state, but for all states. This issue is becoming an inexcusable nightmare for far too many families!

[Tanuki]

2. Yes, it is a nationwide effort. I urge everyone to check out #saveCHIP

https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaveCHIP?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Ffamiliesusa.org%2F