The Families First Coronavirus Response Act was signed into law (P.L. 116-127) on March 18, 2020. The law is the second piece of legislation enacted by Congress in response to the coronavirus pandemic and negotiations are currently underway on a third, much larger economic stimulus package. The Families First legislation covers a broad range of programs affecting children and families, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Women, Infants and Children’s program (WIC), school lunch, family and medical leave, unemployment insurance, emergency paid sick leave, and Medicare. The following explainer brief focuses on the provisions impacting Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

[This report will be updated as revisions are made through subsequent legislation and further clarification is provided. ]

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