Congress Still Dragging Feet Over CHIP: They’re ‘Playing Politics With Our Kids’ Health Care’
Lawmakers have included a provision to fund the program until the end of the year in a stopgap spending plan, but many states scramble in the meantime as money starts to run out.
The Associated Press:
Health Care Fallout: Fate Of 8M Low-Income Children In Limbo
TC Bell knows what life is like without health insurance after growing up with a mother who cobbled together care from a public health clinic, emergency room visits and off-the-books visits to a doctor they knew. That memory makes Bell, of Denver, grateful for the coverage his two daughters have now under the Children's Health Insurance Program — and concerned about its uncertain future in Congress. (Karnowski and Anderson, 12/1)
Bloomberg:
Millions Of Poor Children Could Lose Health Care If Congress Doesn’t Act Soon
States from Oregon to Massachusetts are scrambling to help millions of poor families whose children could lose coverage if Congress fails to reinstate a health insurance program that was approved two decades ago with bipartisan support. The Children’s Health Insurance Program is on the brink of running out of money, and Congress has dragged its feet in passing a reauthorization bill since the program ended on Sept. 30. If lawmakers don’t pass a budget by Dec. 8, the federal government could shut down with the CHIP bill still in limbo. (Rausch, 12/1)
Marketplace:
States Warning Families They May Lose CHIP Medical Coverage
The $15 billion program funnels federal money to states, which they use to subsidize healthcare for some families. Now some states are sending notices to CHIP recipients that their coverage may go away next year. (Uhler, 12/1)
The Hill:
Key Lawmaker Seeks Flexibility For States On CHIP
The chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee is working to lift a restriction on how much money states can get to keep their Children’s Health Insurance Programs (CHIP) running, as Congress works to reauthorize the program that lapsed Sept. 30. Chairman Greg Walden (R-Ore.) has been working with leadership on granting states more flexibility to keep their programs going, according to a GOP committee spokesperson. (Roubein and Hellmann, 12/1)
CQ:
House Appropriations Unveils Two-Week Stopgap, CHIP Aid
House appropriators on Saturday morning introduced a two-week spending stopgap that would keep the government running until Dec. 22 and also help states temporarily bolster funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program. The continuing resolution, details of which were reported Friday by CQ, is needed because the current stopgap (PL 115-56) expires this coming Friday, Dec. 8. (Mejdrich, 12/2)
Kaiser Health News:
States — And 9M Kids — ‘In A Bind’ As Congress Dawdles On CHIP Funding
Last week, Colorado became the first state to notify families that children who receive health insurance through the Children’s Health Insurance Program are in danger of losing their coverage. Nearly 9 million children are insured through CHIP, which covers mostly working-class families. The program has bipartisan support in both the House and Senate, but Congress let federal funding for CHIP expire in September. (Lopez and Simmons-Duffin, 12/4)
Kaiser Health News:
With CHIP In Limbo, Here Are 5 Takeaways On The Congressional Impasse
Two months past its deadline, Congress has yet to fund the Children’s Health Insurance Program, leaving several states scrambling for cash. Lawmakers grappling with the failed repeal of the Affordable Care Act allowed authorization of the program to lapse on Sept. 30. Although CHIP has always had broad bipartisan support, the House and Senate cannot agree on how to continue federal funding. And the Trump administration has been mostly silent on the issue. (Galewitz, 12/1)
