Last week the House voted to pass the Championing Healthy Kids Acts of 2017 (H.R.3922) that included a five-year extension of funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). In addition, the bill provided for two years of relief from the Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payment cuts, eliminating $2 billion in scheduled Medicaid DSH reductions in FY 2018 and $3 billion in reductions in FY 2019.

The legislation also:

  • Extends funding for Community Health Centers for two years
  • Extends funding for Teaching Health Centers
  • Extends funding for the Special Diabetes Program
  • Extends funding for Family-to-Family Health Information Centers
  • Amends the ACA to ensure health plan grace periods are aligned with state law

The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.

The House also voted last week to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB). The 15-member board was created by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to make recommendations on Medicare payment policy if the projected five-year average growth in per capita Medicare spending exceeds a specified target, which has not happened to date.

#CHIP #ACA #Medicaid