I wanted to reach out to provide you with an update on the important work we are doing in the House to protect and support the health of children and certain public health priorities in the United States.

Earlier this month, I joined my colleagues in passing a crucially important bipartisan measure in the House: H.R. 3922, the CHAMPIONING HEALTHY KIDS Act, which passed by a bipartisan margin of 242-174. As a past member of the board of directors of Arkansas Children’s Hospital, I understand this important authorization.  This bill reauthorizes the state Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for five years and community health centers for two years. Other public health priorities supported by this bill include the National Health Service Corps and Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME).

I am a strong supporter of community health centers as they have continually proven to be a crucial investment by delivering high quality, affordable health care while generating savings to the entire health system. Teaching health centers are also instrumental in increasing access to health care services, especially in rural and underserved areas like Arkansas, and they can help reduce the documented primary care physician shortage this country is experiencing by allowing physicians to train in community-based settings.

I believe an adequate physician supply is important for the effective and efficient delivery of health care services. I will continue to support and promote policies that preserve and expand access to care for the uninsured and underserved Americans who receive treatment in our nation's health centers.

Although authorization for CHIP ended on September 30, 2017, Arkansas is expected to have access to federal CHIP funds into the second fiscal quarter of next year, due to unspent funds from its FY 2017 allotment. The bill that the House passed this month fully funds CHIP and these other health programs, and I urge the Senate to act swiftly to pass this bill so that it may be signed into law by the President.

Sincerely,

Representative French Hill