DAVE ROSS

State Medicaid executive: The future of CHIP is unknown

Dec 27, 2017, 6:15 AM

CHIP, health insurance, children, obamacare...

(AP)

(AP)

In 2016, 8.9 million children were enrolled in CHIP, the Children’s Health Insurance Program that has been in place for two decades. Now, Congress is struggling to agree on a funding plan to keep the program going.

“The CHIP program is a program funded by the federal government which allows us here in Washington to cover children with a little bit higher income than our Medicaid program. So in Washington we cover children between 250 percent of the federal poverty level and up to 312 percent of the federal poverty level,” said Mary Wood, the assistant director for the Division of Medicaid Eligibility and Community Support, on KIRO Radio’s Seattle Morning News.

For example, the children in a family of five would qualify for free healthcare if the family’s gross monthly income is less than $3,694. Children in a family of four would qualify for free care if the family’s gross monthly income is less than $3,153.

In Washington, 58,000 children receive healthcare through CHIP.

CHIP funding

CHIP itself is still authorized, but Congress has yet to reauthorize the money to pay for it, Wood said. The CHIP funds technically ran out on September 30.

Many states across the country had unspent funds that they could use to keep the program going through the end of the year. Washington, however, did not.

“The federal government was able to give us some redistribution dollars,” Wood said. “For the last three months, they have sent us $10.3 million each month to continue to operate our CHIP program.”

There has been some good news this week regarding children’s healthcare. Included in the temporary spending bill that Congress passed to prevent a government shutdown was $2.85 billion in funding for the program.

“Hopefully those dollars would take states nationally through the end of March,” Wood said. “We are thankful that at least we have some assurance now that we can continue to run our programs.”

Wood said she hopes Congress comes to a more long-term decision regarding CHIP, so states no longer have to scramble for money each month.

“This is one of the few programs that has really broad bipartisan support,” she said. “We have heard from both sides that folks want to reauthorize this and plan on getting it done. Unfortunately, it hasn’t happened yet.”

Dave's Commentary

Dave Ross on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM
  • listen to dave rossTune in to KIRO Newsradio weekdays at 5am for Dave Ross on Seattle's Morning News.

Dave Ross

car culture...

Dave Ross

Ross: Are we killing car culture? Or is car culture killing the US?

I don’t think the question is whether we're going to "kill" our car culture. The real question is can we stop our car culture from killing the U.S.?

4 days ago

drivers data insurance...

Dave Ross

Ross: As cars release driving data to insurance, is your driving my business?

Every move you make, every swerve you take, every lane change you fake – someone’s watching you. Do drivers have a right to keep driving data private?

11 days ago

rent control...

Dave Ross

Ross: Rent control was never the answer in Wash.

The rent control bill died in the Washington State Legislature this week, even though Democrats control both houses.

1 month ago

end of democracy...

Dave Ross

Ross: Conservative activist earns applause for pledging an ‘end of Democracy’

The theme from Jack Posobiec's speech is that Jan. 6 was a righteous attack not on democracy, but on those who threaten democracy.

1 month ago

Image: Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, is seen on Capitol Hill on Jan. 6, 2023. (Photo: Alex Brand...

Dave Ross

Ross: Voters can help cull bad politicians from the herd early

Let's remember that just about every occupant of a higher office once occupied a lower office, and was put there by us, Dave Ross says.

1 month ago

Super Bowl celebration...

Dave Ross

Ross: The NFL does it again

The NFL once again put on a show that was able to keep me tuned in for four hours even though I had no stake in either team.

2 months ago

State Medicaid executive: The future of CHIP is unknown