GOP’s Plan To Pay For CHIP May Derail Efforts To Renew Funding Of Popular Program
Democrats oppose Republicans' efforts to scrap the Affordble Care Act’s prevention fund, which has been criticized as a "slush fund," and don't like the GOP's proposal to remove lottery winners from state Medicaid programs. Meanwhile, states are bracing for the impact if the money is not renewed.
The Associated Press:
House GOP Proposes 5-Year Extension For Children's Health
A popular program that provides health insurance for 8.9 million low-income children would get five more years of funding under legislation Republicans plan to push through a House committee this week. The measure comes days after federal funding for the program expired. (10/3)
Politico Pro:
House GOP Proposal To Pay For CHIP Program Likely To Rankle Democrats
House Republicans’ package to extend funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program and other public health programs would use Obamacare’s prevention fund and entitlement programs to pay for it — moves that could threaten bipartisan backing for the bill. Republicans as part of their five-year CHIP funding extension want to increase means-testing in Medicare for wealthier seniors, allow states to remove lottery winners from state Medicaid programs and change Medicaid’s third-party liability policy that dictates who pays claims for enrollees before Medicaid must be responsible for costs. (Pradhan, 10/3)
The New York Times:
States Gird For Worst As Congress Wrestles With Children’s Insurance Program
Federal officials on Monday approved a $3.6 million emergency infusion for Minnesota after the state’s human services chief warned that pregnant women and some children were at imminent risk of losing health care coverage under the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Utah, meantime, has formally requested authority to “eliminate eligibility and services under CHIP” if the state does not have enough money to continue coverage. (Pear, 10/3)
Modern Healthcare:
States Search For Stopgaps As Congress Misses CHIP Deadline
Now that the federal funding deadline for the Children's Health Insurance Program has lapsed, Minnesota officials have found themselves in an uncomfortable waiting game.
The state had expected to run out of money for CHIP in the coming days, but the CMS said it would provide a last-minute reprieve. The federal agency told Minnesota officials that it plans to reallocate some unspent CHIP funds from around the country to states that were expected to exhaust their funds first, according to Emily Piper, commissioner of Minnesota's Department of Human Services. (Dickson, 10/3)
Kaiser Health News:
5 Takeaways From Congress’ Failure To Extend Funding For Children’s Coverage
Congress finally seems ready to take action on the Children’s Health Insurance Program after funding lapsed Sept. 30. Before the deadline, lawmakers were busy grappling with the failed repeal of the Affordable Care Act.CHIP covers 9 million children nationwide. But until Congress renews CHIP, states are cut off from additional federal funding that helps lower- and middle-income families. (Galewitz, 10/3)
Austin American-Statesman:
400,000 Texas Children At Risk Of Losing Health Insurance
About 400,000 Texas children and pregnant women could lose health insurance coverage if the federal government doesn’t renew funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program. (Chang, 10/3)
