Colorado becomes first state to notify families of potential children's health program shutdown

This is primarily Sen. Orrin Hatch's fault.

The promised chaos from the Republican Congress negligence in allowing the Children's Health Insurance Program to lapse 59 days ago is upon us. More specifically it is falling upon families in Colorado, where the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing has been forced to start notifying clients of Children’s Health Plan Plus (CHP+) that their children's health care is in jeopardy.

Colorado has sufficient funds to operate the CHP+ program until January 31, 2018; today's letter is intended to urge CHP+ members to be prepared in the event the federal government fails to reinstate funding. […]

"It is critically important for families to start planning for potential changes in their health coverage if the federal government doesn't renew funding for the CHP+ program," said Gretchen Hammer, Medicaid Director. "We remain cautiously optimistic Congress will renew federal funding, but we want our families enrolled in CHP+ to be aware that changes may be coming and not be caught off guard should the program come to an end. We encourage families to sign up for electronic notices and informational updates through their PEAK accounts so we can quickly reach them with updates." […]

"It's frustrating that our CHP+ families are facing this uncertainty, especially during the holidays," said Tom Massey, interim executive director of the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. "We are hopeful the federal government will act quickly to renew funding and alleviate further worry by Colorado families who rely on this important program."

If Congress doesn't provide the funding in the next two weeks, Colorado officials say, they will have to send official notifications that the program is being cancelled. Colorado is proactively working with clients to try to find private coverage for these families through their Obamacare exchanges. The same program Republicans are plotting to destroy in their tax cuts for the filthy rich bill, the bill that has taken precedent over everything else Congress should be doing right this minute. Like providing continuing health care to 9 million children and another 25 million who rely on community health centers. Because that funding lapsed 59 days ago, too.

Jam the phone lines of House and Senate Republicans, but make the first call to Hatch. Call [phone], and tell him to stop holding kids hostage and to pass a clean funding bill for CHIP and community health centers.