For Many It’s ‘Beyond Belief’ That Funding For Wildly Popular CHIP Program Is In Limbo
“It crushes me to think we’re in an environment where kids’ health is up for debate," said Dr. Todd Wolynn, a pediatrician in Pittsburgh. Although the program has enjoyed strong bipartisan support in the past, Congress has been dawdling on renewing funding for the program.
The New York Times:
The CHIP Program Is Beloved. Why Is Its Funding In Danger?
Laquita Gardner, a sales manager at a furniture rental store here, was happy to get a raise recently except for one problem. It lifted her income just enough to disqualify her and her two young sons from Medicaid, the free health insurance program for the poor. She was relieved to find another option was available for the boys: the Children’s Health Insurance Program, known as CHIP, that covers nearly nine million children whose parents earn too much for Medicaid, but not enough to afford other coverage. (Goodnough and Pear, 12/5)
CQ:
Long-Term Children's Health Funding Remains Unclear
A stopgap funding bill revealed last week could further stretch the timeline for renewing funds for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, but questions remain about how a longer-term renewal will come together. The continuing resolution to extend funding for the government and prevent a shutdown that was released last week would make it easier for states to use additional redistributed funding without being subject to a cap. Essentially, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services could distribute leftover federal dollars through the end of the year even to states that already received their maximum share of the redistribution funding under current rules. (Raman, 12/5)
Denver Post:
Hickenlooper Says He’s Frustrated, Baffled That Congress Hasn’t Renewed Children’s Health Insurance Program
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper on Tuesday renewed his call for Congress to reauthorize the Children’s Health Insurance Program, expressing exasperation and bewilderment that funding for the bipartisan children’s health care program had been allowed to expire in the first place. “How did we get to this point?” Hickenlooper said on a Tuesday afternoon conference call with reporters. “To be honest, no one has explained to me why (it hasn’t been renewed). We know there’s the votes in the Senate, and we know there’s the votes in the House. But it is not coming out of committee.” (Eason, 12/5)
