| Greetings NACHSA Members: |
| Congress debated a number of items of importance to human services administrators this week, including another debate on the State Children's Health Insurance Program, action on food stamps, movement on the Labor-HHS spending bill and continuing efforts on child support funding. |
| SCHIP |
| On October 25, the House again failed to adopt a 'veto-proof' bill reauthorizing the State Children's Health Insurance (SCHIP) program. The Democratic leadership attempted to re-write some of the bill President Bush vetoed earlier this month in an attempt to make it more clear that the reauthorization would continue to deny assistance to undocumented immigrants; would phase out coverage of childless adults under the program; and would cap state expansions to 300 percent of the federal poverty level. The changes garnered one less vote for passage, however, and that was a Republican who now opposed the legislation due to the lack of time to review the new measure. Click here to see how your member voted.
The Senate will likely consider the new bill next week and House Democratic leaders have left open the door to possible additional changes, but given the heated debate in the House, it is not at all certain what changes would garner new supporters. House leadership is now signaling that SCHIP funding may be extended on a continuing resolution until next fall, with a another vote right before the elections. Given a possible extension of funding until next fall, the question going forward is how much funding would be included in an extension. If it is current level spending, then a number of states could face shortfalls operating current programs in the coming months. There would not be enough money in the short term for states considering extending coverage within the next year or so to 300 percent of the federal poverty level. |
