MACPAC recommends five-year CHIP funding extension

The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission today recommended five additional years of federal funding for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, calling for action “as soon as possible” to preserve health insurance coverage for more than 8 million children and mitigate budget uncertainty for states. Without congressional action, CHIP’s funding will expire and states will not receive any new federal funds for CHIP beyond Sept. 30, 2017. The recommendation was among a package of MACPAC recommendations to address the stability and continuity of health insurance coverage for low- and moderate-income children, including support for states to test innovations that could lead to a more seamless system of children’s coverage.