A bipartisan bill that was supposed to provide uninterrupted CHIP funding is still sitting in Congress, even after CHIP coverage expired on September 30, 2017.

The Hatch-Wyden deal would be a champion for children’s health. The law would extend CHIP coverage for 5 more years – two years longer than the last extension granted in 2015.

The federal government does not provide equal CHIP funding to all states: higher amounts are allocated to states with low average personal incomes.  With the ratification of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) came a significant increase in the federal government’s share of the bill across the board.  Funding for all state saw a hike of 23%.  The increase lead to CHIP coverage in 11 states become completely funded by the federal government according to the New York Times.

The new bill would gradually revert the program back to a more equal financial partnership by 2022, yet still hold the federal government accountable for the majority of the funding.

The quick passing of the bill could stop cataclysmic events for CHIP recipients in three states (Arizona, Minnesota, and North Carolina) and Washington D.C. who all face the reality of running out of funding between now and December. Twenty-seven other states run the risk of funds running dry as soon as January.  Wyoming is the only state that appears to be in a position to spread funding out until the middle of 2018.

If a deal isn’t cut soon, states will begin to notify families that they may not be able to receive CHIP coverage next year.  Contact us today with any questions you may have about CHIP compliance and ask how we can ensure you’re taking the right steps in this uncertain time.