Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Lawmakers Reach Agreement To Extend Popular CHIP Funding
The New York Times: Deal Struck To Extend Financing For Children’s Health Program
The chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and the top Democrat on the panel announced on Tuesday night that they had reached agreement on a plan to prevent the imminent exhaustion of federal funds for the Children’s Health Insurance Program. The current appropriation runs out at the end of this month, and many states will exhaust their allotments of federal money later this year or early next year. (Pear, 9/12)
The Associated Press: Senate Bargainers Say Deal Reached On Children's Health
In a concession to Republicans, the agreement would phase out extra federal funds that have gone to states for the program since the additional money was mandated as part of President Barack Obama's 2010 health care law. Money for the federal-state program is due to expire at the end of September. The program provides health coverage to around 8 million low-income children and pregnant women. It was initially unclear how the agreement would fare in the Senate and the House. (Fram, 9/12)
Politico: Senate Finance Leaders Announce 5-Year CHIP Deal
"Not only does this proposal provide uninterrupted funding for CHIP, but it also provides certainty and increased flexibility for states to administer the program," Hatch said in a statement. The proposed legislation would maintain Obamacare's 23 percent increase in the federal matching rate to states for 2018 and 2019 and begin to ratchet it down in 2020, according to GOP and Democratic aides. The bump is set at 11.5 percent in 2020 and would be totally eliminated starting in 2021. (Pradhan, 9/12)
CQ: Finance Committee Announces Five-Year Children's Insurance Plan
A committee aide said Tuesday night that the proposal would provide additional protections for low-income people and flexibility from a requirement in the health care law that some states keep the eligibility levels in their CHIP programs the same as when the law passed in March 2010. Because funding for the program will expire in two weeks, children’s advocacy groups have been emphasizing the urgency of taking action immediately. “The chairman and I are very much committed in moving and moving quickly. I want a multi-year bill. I want generous funding,” said Wyden earlier this week. (Raman, 9/12)
The Hill: Senators Announce Bipartisan Extension Of Children's Health Program
A two-year CHIP reauthorization passed in April 2015, months before the program was set to expire, and the provision was included in a larger Medicare reform package. (Weixel, 9/12)
