Get up to Date on Federal MCH Policy
The next even in the All-Member National MCH Policy Call series will take place on Oct. 5 from 2-3:30 p.m. ET. Members can register here.

Help Needed to Save MIECHV, CHIP and More
Although Sept. 30 was technically the funding expiration date for CHIP, the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (MIECHV), the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP), Family to Family Information Centers and other health programs, Congress has failed to take action. We know that without action as soon as possible, states might have to begin making cuts to these programs. To avoid that, we need your help!

On Sept. 27, the House of Representatives narrowly passed a bill to reauthorize MIECHV for five years at flat funding, but the bill includes a new state match requirement. The Senate, however, has a bipartisan proposal to extend MIECHV without the state match, and AMCHP is working with its partners in the Home Visiting Coalition to urge Congress to pass that version into law. Please continue reaching out to your representatives and senators with a simple message of, "I encourage you to swiftly take up S.1829, the Senate bipartisan bill to reauthorize MIECHV!" You can connect with House members here and senators here.

Health Reform: What's Next
The recent Senate decision not to vote on the Graham-Cassidy proposal to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act means that this year's attempts at repeal/replace are effectively exhausted. That's because the deadline to act on repeal/replace efforts through a simple majority, rather than the usual 60 votes, was Sept. 30. Indications are that progress is being made to secure a bipartisan deal to stabilize insurance markets in the near-term.