Financing

Clearing Up Confusion about the Impact of the CHIP Funding Rescission in Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Conference Agreement

In June, the Senate rejected a Trump Administration proposal to rescind federal funding for a variety of programs including the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). At the time, we had raised significant concerns because the Administration’s rescission package would have eliminated $2 billion from CHIP’s Child Enrollment Contingency Fund. Those $2 billion in funds […]

Edwin Park

September 19, 2018

Indexing Capital Gains Would Add to Deficit, Adversely Impact State Budgets and Imperil Medicaid Funding

Even though the Trump Administration almost certainly lacks the authority to do so, press reports indicate that the Administration is considering issuing a new regulation to provide another large tax cut for the wealthy. The regulation would index capital gains for inflation, substantially lowering the amounts that would be subject to taxation. As the Center […]

Edwin Park

August 1, 2018

House Committee to Consider Expanding Health Savings Account Tax Breaks for High Income

Today, July 11, the full House Ways and Means Committee will begin consideration of multiple health-related tax bills, many of which would expand tax breaks for Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). These HSA bills would primarily benefit those with high incomes, rather than make health coverage more affordable for low- and moderate-income children and families. Health […]

Edwin Park

July 11, 2018

New Conservative ACA Repeal Plan Would Likely Make Millions Uninsured

On June 19, a coalition of conservative think tanks unveiled a very brief outline of their plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Like similar 2017 repeal proposals from Senators Cassidy and Graham, the Health Care Choices Proposal would convert funding for the Medicaid expansion and marketplace subsidies into block grants for states. The […]

Edwin Park

June 20, 2018

Federal Investment in Children: Why Capping Medicaid Would Make a Bad Situation Worse

Not that you needed another reason that capping federal Medicaid payments to states would be an unmitigated disaster for children and families. But since the proposal is alive and well in some quarters—notably the President’ FY 2019 Budget—it’s worth marshaling as many as possible. Here’s another one, from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. The […]

Andy Schneider

June 14, 2018

HEALTHY KIDS and ACCESS Acts: Summary of Key Provisions Impacting Children

Introduction On January 22, 2018, Congress passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) that included the Helping Ensure Access for Little Ones, Toddlers, and Hopeful Youth by Keeping Insurance Delivery Stable Act (HEALTHY KIDS Act) funding the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for six years. Just over two weeks later, on February 8, 2018, Congress passed another […]

Kelly Whitener

March 15, 2018