Survey looks at states' CHIP budgeting, planning

Most states are assuming federal funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program will continue in fiscal year 2016, but many have started to consider potential scenarios if federal funding is not extended, according to a survey of CHIP directors released yesterday by the National Academy for State Health Policy. Without congressional action, funding for the program is scheduled to expire Sept. 30. Most states operating separate CHIP programs anticipate having federal CHIP allotments through December but needing some lead time to transition enrollees to other sources of potential coverage if federal funding expires, the survey found.