Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) has long been pushing for a long-term authorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program, the federal-state partnership that covers nearly 9 million of the country's children. He and Orrin Hatch (R-UT), leaders of the Senate Finance Committee, have gotten there, with an agreement for a five-year authorization. They just have to figure out how to get it passed by the end of the month.
Money for the federal-state program is due to expire at the end of September. The program provides health coverage to around 8 million low-income children and pregnant women.
It was initially unclear how the agreement would fare in the Senate and the House.
But the two negotiators — Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and that panel’s top Democrat, Ron Wyden of Oregon — work closely with party leaders. In addition, having embarrassingly failed in this year’s attempt to repeal Obama’s health care statute, Republicans and President Donald Trump are eager for an accomplishment and would be unlikely to stymie the continuation of such a widely supported initiative.
It was also unclear if the pact would move quickly and by itself through Congress, or become a vehicle for other, less widely backed legislation.
Because this is such a popular and necessary program, it's been an easy target for hostage-takers. Authorizing it one year at a time means it's always there to use as leverage, usually by Republicans, to get other things they want. In this case, they're getting a phase out of a boost in funds from the Affordable Care Act, because they want as little money as possible going to keeping the next generation healthy. It's not a great trade-off, certainly, but putting the program on a more long-term sustainable path is critical advocates say. Having to deal with the uncertainty of getting funding and getting it on time has been a perpetual challenge for providers.