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HR 1491 105th Congress House Health Adoption Agriculture and Food Aid to dependent children Cash welfare block grants Child health Clinics Economics and Public Finance Employee health benefits Families Federal aid to child health services Federal aid to child welfare Finance and Financial Sector Food stamps Foster home care Government Operations and Politics Government paperwork Health insurance Hospitals Infants

Children's Health Insurance Provides Security (CHIPS) Act of 1997

Introduced: April 30, 1997 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 105th Congress ended
It never became law before the 105th Congress (1997–1998) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 7, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment.
Apr 30, 1997
Referred to the House Committee on Commerce.
Apr 30, 1997
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E803-804)
Apr 30, 1997
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Children's Health Insurance Provides Security (CHIPS) Act of 1997 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to offer States which have Medicaid plans that provide for the following an enhanced Federal match: (1) Medicaid coverage of pregnant women under age 19, infants, and children with family income between 133 and 150 percent of the poverty line regardless of date of birth; and (2) continuous eligibility for them for a period of 12 months. Gives States the option to expand Medicaid eligibility to 150 percent of the poverty line for children over one year of age.

Prohibits any employer which elects to make employer contributions on behalf of an individual who is an employee of such employer, or who is a dependent of such employee, for health insurance coverage from conditioning, or varying, such contributions with respect to any such individual by reason of such individual's status as a Medicaid-eligible individual. Provides that an employer shall not be treated as failing to meet such requirements if the employer ceases to make employer contributions for health insurance coverage for all its employees. Makes the enforcement provisions applicable to group health insurance coverage under amendments made by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 applicable with respect to an employer that violates this paragraph in the same manner as this paragraph applies to employers under such amendments.

Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services for grants to States, localities, and nonprofit entities to promote outreach efforts to enroll eligible children under Medicaid and related programs.

What's happening now May 7, 1997

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1491: Children's Health Insurance Provides Security (CHIPS) Act of 1997. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-1491/
MLA
"H.R. 1491: Children's Health Insurance Provides Security (CHIPS) Act of 1997." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-1491/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1491, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-1491/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1491: Children's Health Insurance Provides Security (CHIPS) Act of 1997](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-1491/)
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