Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Long-Term Solution For CHIP Funding On Docket As Congress Returns To Jam-Packed Schedule
The Washington Post: Congress Will Return To A Full Slate Of Difficult Issues
Congress faces a jam-packed to-do list this month with deadlines looming on difficult issues — including how to fund the government and avoid a shutdown, stabilizing the nation’s health insurance program for poor children, and whether to shield young undocumented immigrants from deportation. Fresh off a party-line vote in favor of legislation overhauling the tax code, the negotiations will test whether Congress and the White House still have the potential to craft any form of bipartisan agreement. If so, several of the year’s most contested issues might be resolved with months to spare before the 2018 midterm campaign heats up. (Stein, 1/1)
Bloomberg: Trump And Congress Spoil For Fights With Shutdown Again At Stake
Several health-care issues are also outstanding. Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine voted for the GOP tax-cut bill in exchange for a promise from her party’s leaders to vote on two bills aimed at shoring up Obamacare. One would restore subsidies for co-payments and deductibles suspended by Trump, while the other would establish a reinsurance program to help insurers cover people with chronic and costly illnesses. (Sink, Wasson and Edgerton, 1/2)
The Hill: Five Key Decisions For The GOP On Health Care
Republicans have repealed ObamaCare’s individual insurance mandate, but they still have a number of decisions to make on health care in the coming year. Even without the unpopular mandate, the health-care law is still largely in effect, with nearly 9 million people enrolled in private plans for 2018. (Hellmann, 12/29)
The Hill: Health-Care Fights Could Complicate 2018 Funding Deal
A host of health-care issues could complicate a deal to fund the government in what will be a hectic January for Congress. Lawmakers agreed to a short-term continuing resolution that funds the government through Jan. 19. When they return, they will face a number of dicey issues with two weeks to reach a new full-year funding deal. (Weixel, 12/28)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: GOP Senate Candidates Open Door To Cutting Entitlement Programs
With $1.5 trillion in tax cuts signed into law last week, Wisconsin Republicans like U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan and the party's two U.S. Senate candidates face a question: Should the GOP move on to overhauling entitlements? In 2018, Republicans could use their control of the federal government to prioritize an infrastructure bill, a rewrite to immigration law or changes to entitlement programs such as Medicaid health programs for the needy and Medicare coverage for seniors. (Stein, 12/29)
Earlier, related KHN coverage: Children’s Insurance, Other Health Programs Funded — For Now — In Bill (Rovner, 12/22).
Meanwhile, states like Alabama, Connecticut and Minnesota cope with the CHIP uncertainty —
The Hill: Alabama Calls Off Freeze To Children's Health Insurance
Alabama will no longer freeze enrollment for children's health insurance on Jan. 1, thanks to new temporary funding passed by Congress, the state said Wednesday. The stopgap spending bill that lawmakers passed last week gives the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) $2.85 billion in temporary funding. The move was intended to tide over states that were running low on funding due to Congress's failure to pass a long-term funding measure for the program. (Sullivan, 12/27)
The Hill: Connecticut CHIP To Last An Extra Month Unless It Gets More Money From Congress
Connecticut is extending its program to provide health insurance to low- and middle-income children another month, after lawmakers appropriated $2.85 billion to keep states’ programs temporarily afloat. In mid-December, a notice on Connecticut’s website alerted families that the state’s Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) would end Jan. 31 unless Congress provided new federal funding. Before leaving town for the holidays, lawmakers passed a stopgap spending bill with additional funds for CHIP lasting through March 31. (Roubein, 12/29)
The Star Tribune: Congress Indecision Paralyzing Minnesota Safety Net Clinics
Nearly 70 of Minnesota’s safety net medical clinics, with thousands of patients, face an uncertain future because Congress has failed to reauthorize their federal funding, leaving them unable to fill doctor vacancies or plan out services for the year. The program brought $27 million to Minnesota, supporting free or affordable care for more than 50,000 patients who lack health insurance. Before Congress left for the holiday break, and three months after the program’s funding expired, lawmakers did authorize a 90-day extension, but they were unable to reach a permanent fix even though the program enjoys bipartisan support. (Howatt, 1/1)
