Update from the CHIP Coalition:
"...the week before last, bills to reauthorize CHIP passed out of the committees of jurisdiction in both chambers. The Senate bill to protect CHIP passed out of the Senate Finance Committee without dissent. The House bill largely mirrored the Senate bill’s policy on CHIP, but included partisan offsets, including a policy (related to third-party liability for Medicaid) that could reduce access to high-value Medicaid services such as pediatric preventive care and care for pregnant women. The House bill passed out of the Energy and Commerce committee with Republican votes only. Last week, only the House was in session and no further progress was made on CHIP. The Senate will be in session this week (while the House is in recess) and we hope that the Senate moves their bill to the floor for a full vote this week. This update from the Georgetown Center for Children and Families provides additional details on likely Congressional next steps. It remains unclear what the vehicle will be to get CHIP reauthorization across the finish line. We know that some states are already very low on CHIP funds and will need to start ending coverage next month. HCPF has stated that unless Congress acts, kids and pregnant women in Colorado will begin losing their health care in just three months, at the end of January.
You can read a Denver Post editorial on the CHIP program here – and watch news clips about the importance of the program to one Colorado family here and here."
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