National Governors Association Asks Lawmakers To Address Expected SCHIP Program Budget Shortfalls Before 109th Congress Adjourns

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 27 Oct 2006 - 2:00 PDT

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New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine (D) and Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas (R), chair and vice chair, respectively, of the National Governors Association's Health and Human Services Committee, have sent a letter to ranking members of the Senate Finance and House Energy and Commerce committees requesting that anticipated fiscal year 2007 funding shortfalls in SCHIP be addressed before the 109th Congress adjourns, CQ HealthBeat reports. SCHIP was established in 1997 to help states provide coverage for children in families with incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty level. Corzine and Douglas wrote that SCHIP's "substantial federal funding shortfalls ... could leave states with insufficient funds to continue providing coverage to those currently on the program." They added, "Governors believe each state and territory must -- at a minimum -- have sufficient federal funds to cover fully its SCHIP caseload." At a Senate Finance Health Subcommittee hearing in July, witnesses told committee members that the program has helped to reduce the number of uninsured U.S. children by one-third. At that hearing, then-CMS Administrator Mark McClellan said funding shortfalls would not pose any problems because there were plenty of surplus funds to distribute to states that needed it (CQ HealthBeat, 10/24).

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