When Congress extended funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to March, it was a great reprieve for tens of thousands of Denver families who count on the program to support their kids and encourage the working class to keep working. But why are we kicking these vital “cans” down the road month by month, when the great majority of our political leaders agree CHIP has been fantastic for the health of Colorado and the nation? Study after study shows the huge benefits of the kind of integrated medical, dental and behavioral care Denver kids get under CHP+ (the Colorado version of CHIP). They need it to stay healthy, stay in school and stay productive.
Congress should extend CHIP funding for five years and give our hardworking kids and hardworking families a more certain, more hopeful future.
Kraig Burleson, Denver
The writer is CEO of Inner City Health Center, a nonprofit medical, dental and behavioral health provider.
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