As funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) hangs in the balance, Gov. Doug Ducey has called on Arizona’s congressional leaders to reauthorize the program that provides coverage for over 23,000 of the state’s children.

Ducey asking lawmakers to continue to fund the health insurance program for children, which in Arizona is known as KidsCare.

"Because of Congress’ inaction on the CHIP reauthorization bill, these families are in limbo, wondering whether their children will lose their health insurance,” Ducey said in a letter. "This has never been a partisan issue and should not be one now. There are a lot of things that divide us, but taking care of these kids is something that should unite us. I urge all of you to speak with your leadership, ask them to bring the bill to the floor by December, and vote to continue this program and not pull the rug out from under thousands of Arizona kids.”

The KidsCare program was signed into legislation by Ducey in May 2016 and had been rolled back before he took office because of the Great Recession.

Ducey has also said he is looking at ways to extend the KidsCare insurance coverage by using funding from Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System if Congress does not act in time. The extension would keep the health insurance program going through the spring and prevent lapses in coverage.