CQ News
By: Sandhya Raman
Children’s advocacy groups are pleased with the multi-year extension to the Children’s Health Insurance Program proposed by Sens. Orrin G. Hatch of Utah and Ron Wyden of Oregon even though it would scale back some state funding and consumer protections in the health care law (PL 111-148, PL 111-152).
The Senate Finance Committee’s top Republican and Democrat announced a deal Tuesday night that would extend the program for five years through 2022. It would also maintain extra money for states — a 23 percentage point federal matching rate increase that was in the 2010 health law — for two more years before phasing it out by 2021.
…
If CHIP funding expires, states may continue to use any leftover funds they may have. However, a policy that expedites enrollment by letting states use other government information to approve applications sunsets on Sept. 30. At least eight states use that policy, known as “express lane eligibility,” according to the Georgetown Center for Children and Families.
…
Read more here.
