Sen. Orrin Hatch’s impotence is once again on full display. Congress has yet to fund one of his hallmark accomplishments – the Children’s Health Insurance Program, known as CHIP. Funding for the program ran out as of Sept. 30. In September, Utah health officials said they would need to end the CHIP program if Congress failed to fund it, as it would be insolvent by the end of the year.
CHIP subsidizes wellness exams, immunizations, doctor visits, prescriptions and other health care costs for children in families who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid. There are 20,000 children in Utah who benefit from the program, and 9 million across the country.