AAP Statement on Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Package

By: Moira Szilagyi, MD, PhD, FAAP, president, American Academy of Pediatrics

“The comprehensive spending bill unveiled by lawmakers this morning includes needed investments in children’s health, especially during such a stressful and uncertain time for families. Specifically, the bill includes AAP-championed policies to extend and expand the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting program and to allow children to remain enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) continuously throughout the year.

“This renewal of home visiting programs means more eligible families will access these proven services and remain connected to support and expertise that complements the work we do as pediatricians. As we confront a surge in respiratory illness and the ongoing pandemic, access to reliable, high-quality health care coverage becomes even more vital for families. The omnibus bill makes permanent a policy the AAP has long supported: children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP should have continuous eligibility year-round, so their families no longer have to face disruptions in coverage and bureaucratic paperwork to remain enrolled.

“While these policies represent major advocacy victories for children’s health and will make a real difference for their families, one policy that would have offered further economic stability did not make it into the final package: the expanded child tax credit. This policy has reduced child poverty, which has directly impacted child health and as such the Academy will continue to advocate for it in the next Congress.

“At a time when young people are enduring crisis after crisis, we must make sure their needs are reflected and prioritized in spending decisions made by lawmakers. We urge Congress to advance this bill without delay, and will continue to advocate for children’s needs in the new year.”

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. For more information, visit www.aap.org and follow us on Twitter @AmerAcadPeds