Change to Census Data Processing Methods Threatens Health Policy Research and Federal Data Systems

On June 4, 2026, the Commerce Department issued Department Administrative Order (DAO) 216-26, Disclosure Avoidance for Statistical Products, which bans a class of privacy techniques called “noise infusion” in all data products coming out of the Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). This order, which was made effective immediately without opportunity for…

July 30, 2026

By

Aubrianna Osorio

Blog

Trump Administration Issues Final Public Charge Rule, Ignores Public Comments on Harm to Children

On July 20, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued final regulations lifting current rules used to determine whether an immigrant is likely to become a “public charge”. The final rule, which takes effect on September 18, eliminates a century of established policy, carefully calibrated to address policy issues and undefined terms in…

July 24, 2026

By

Joan Alker

Blog

Young Children’s Uninsurance is On the Rise – What Can Be Done to Protect Child Health?

Earlier this month, we released an analysis of uninsurance trends that found that young children were becoming uninsured at a faster rate than their school-aged peers. The trend is alarming and predates the massive declines we are seeing in child Medicaid enrollment since President Trump took office and before H.R. 1 Medicaid cuts and policy…

June 26, 2026

By

Elisabeth Wright Burak

and

Joan Alker

Blog

From Temporary Fixes to Lasting Change: Fixing CHIP Eligibility in Kansas

By Heather Braum, Kansas Action for Children The Kansas State Legislature’s 2026 session proved successful for one particular policy: updating state law to ensure more eligible Kansas kids can access health coverage through the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). To understand why a small change will make a big impact on Kansas families – picture…

May 22, 2026

By

Guest

Blog

Louisiana Loses a Formidable Child Health and Medicaid Champion in Ruth Kennedy

A few weeks ago, I learned that our friend, Ruth Kennedy, former LaCHIP and Medicaid Director in Louisiana, had passed away. I met Ruth back in the early 2000’s when we were both CHIP directors and participated in the Covering Kids and Covering Kids and Families grant programs funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.…

April 17, 2026

By

Tricia Brooks

Research & Reports

Is Your State Leaving Money on the Table? How CHIP Health Service Initiatives Can Help States Support Children’s Access to Care

At a time when states are facing growing fiscal pressures and increasing strain on health systems, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Health Services Initiatives (HSIs) represent an often overlooked source of federal funding offering flexible financing to support outreach and targeted health initiatives to improve children’s health. This source of federally-matched funding becomes increasingly…

March 25, 2026

By

Yuliya Yafimenka

,

Nancy Kaneb

and

Tricia Brooks

Blog

Medicaid and CHIP Cover More than 4 in 10 Students in Public Schools Nationwide

School-aged children across the nation are facing a mounting mental health crisis, exacerbated by policy changes affecting immigration and Medicaid. As we’ve written before, Medicaid and CHIP are vital supporters of student success, both during the school years and into adulthood. Understanding the landscape of Medicaid/CHIP coverage in local school districts is paramount to connecting…

March 25, 2026

By

Aubrianna Osorio

and

Hannah Green

Blog

How are H.R. 1 Cuts and Changes to Medicaid and SNAP Playing out in 2026 State Legislative Sessions So Far?

Following the enactment of the largest Medicaid cuts in history, we anticipated a flurry of Medicaid activity in state legislative sessions. State legislators were left to fill the budget holes made by H.R.1, figure out how to implement H.R.1-mandated policies like work reporting requirements, and (hopefully) mitigate some of the associated coverage losses. Ten state…

March 16, 2026

By

Jade Little

Blog

Prenatal Care: The Silent Maternal Health Emergency Hidden in New CDC Data

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers a look at concerning new trends in prenatal care access. From 2021-2024, prenatal care initiated during the first trimester of pregnancy declined, while those receiving care later or no prenatal care increased, as shown below. The share of pregnant women who received…

March 10, 2026

By

Tanesha Mondestin

and

Aubrianna Osorio

Data

State by State Medicaid and CHIP Enrollment Data

This tracker shows enrollment data for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in all 50 states and DC, from January 2025 to the most recent month available. Data include total Medicaid/CHIP enrollment, as well as enrollment for children, adults, and Medicaid expansion. Historical data are also included to provide additional context for state…

February 23, 2026

Blog

Critical Threats to Child and Family Health Intensify in 2026: Here is What We are Watching at CCF

The policy landscape for child and family health has undergone a dramatic transformation following the passage of H.R. 1, the budget reconciliation bill known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and related policy changes enacted during the first year of the Trump administration. As we enter the second year of this administration, the Georgetown…

February 6, 2026

By

Joan Alker

Blog

Congress Reauthorized the SUPPORT Act, Now Comes the Hard Part

On December 1, President Trump signed into law the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025, extending a number of substance use disorder (SUD) prevention, treatment, and recovery programs through fiscal year 2030. The bipartisan bill—which passed the House 366-57 in June and the Senate by unanimous consent in September—reauthorizes critical programs including…

December 12, 2025

By

Anne Dwyer

Blog

Florida Leaders Have Failed to Implement Bipartisan Plan Approved Over 2 Years Ago to Help Families Afford Health Insurance for Their Children

Florida’s children are more likely to go without health insurance than children in most other states. In a rare display of bipartisan unity, the Florida Legislature recognized the need to address the high cost of health insurance for families with children and took action by unanimously approving a bill to expand the state’s Healthy Kids…

November 25, 2025

By

Joan Alker

Blog

Threats to Maternal and Infant Health Won’t End After Shutdown Resolved

The current federal government shutdown is driven by failure of the Congress to finalize this year’s federal budget appropriations or adopt a Continuing Resolution (CR). The shutdown is already impacting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Head Start programs and other family supports, as Congress remains in a stand-still over extending ACA marketplace enhanced premium…

November 4, 2025

By

Kay Johnson

and

Elisabeth Wright Burak

Blog

The Vaccines for Children Program: A Solution to a Complex Challenge

Between 1982 and 1986, a vaccine liability crisis loomed as the greatest threat to immunizing our children. In this light, the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 (P.L. 99-660) was enacted to address this problem by creating a system for “no-fault” compensation for families of children with adverse conditions related to routine pediatric immunizations.…

October 8, 2025

By

Kay Johnson

Blog

Child Uninsurance Rate Hits Highest Level in Almost a Decade. Check What Is Happening in Your State

The latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) bring troubling news for children’s health coverage. After years of progress, the child uninsured rate rose again in 2024, reaching its highest level since 2014. As Joan Alker explains in her blog, these numbers signal that the progress made over the past years…

October 6, 2025

By

Yuliya Yafimenka

Blog

New Immigrant Eligibility Restrictions Coming to Federally-Funded Health Coverage

This time next year, an estimated 1.4 million lawfully present immigrants are expected to lose health coverage due to the Budget Reconciliation Law. The law restricts eligibility for federally funded health coverage to only a very narrow group of immigrants – lawful permanent residents (LPR, or green card holders), Cuban and Haitian entrants, and people…

October 1, 2025

By

Kelly Whitener

Blog

States Should Use Rural Transformation Fund to Focus on Children and Families

At this moment, states are seeking input and putting ideas on paper to develop priorities for their state applications for a piece of the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund included in H.R. 1 (with applications due to the federal government by November 5th). Our colleague Adam Searing reminded readers that these funds will by…

September 26, 2025

By

Elisabeth Wright Burak

and

Anne Dwyer

Blog

Preventive Services at Risk: Federal Instability and State Responses

In late June, the Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) preventive services provision, preserving—for now—zero cost sharing access to screenings, vaccines, and other preventive care for more than 150 million people. The decision in Kennedy v. Braidwood Management Inc. foreclosed a constitutional challenge to coverage of preventive care while underscoring new risks to consumers’ access to…

September 26, 2025

By

,

,

and

Blog

Progress for Children is Eroding as Child Uninsured Rate Spikes to Highest Level since 2014

Every year we examine data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) which provides the most comprehensive look nationally and by state at important trends impacting America’s families – including health insurance. Today we are sharing our analysis of data that came out just yesterday for calendar year 2024. Our analysis is…

September 12, 2025

By

Joan Alker

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