Latest news with #CHIP
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First Post
6 days ago
- Business
- First Post
Capitol Hill civil war: US Senate, House on collision course over Trump's ‘One Big Beautiful Bill'
Though most Senate Republicans exited a closed-door briefing without publicly opposing the measure, several are raising serious concerns, casting doubt on whether the bill has enough support to pass read more Senate Republicans are grappling with growing internal divisions over a revised version of former President Donald Trump's sweeping second-term legislative agenda, informally dubbed the 'One Big Beautiful Bill.' The latest proposal, unveiled by the Senate Finance Committee, outlines a $5 trillion increase to the nation's borrowing authority, $1 trillion more than the House version, setting the stage for a potential standoff between the two chambers of Congress. Though most Senate Republicans exited a closed-door briefing without publicly opposing the measure, several are raising serious concerns, casting doubt on whether the bill has enough support to pass. Senate Majority Leader John Thune can afford to lose only three Republican votes on the Senate floor, and while no senators have explicitly pledged to vote against it, the vocal unease suggests a rocky path forward. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD House, Senate diverge on key provisions A major source of contention lies in the bill's fiscal and healthcare measures. The Senate version includes stricter Medicaid changes than the House's, in addition to preserving the $10,000 cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions, a sticking point for moderate House Republicans from high-tax states who had secured a deal to raise the cap to $40,000 in their chamber's version. The Senate bill also proposes phasing out green energy tax credits and making permanent the corporate tax cuts enacted in 2017 during Trump's first term. It includes a campaign pledge to shield tipped workers' income from federal taxation. Medicaid cuts prompt GOP pushback One of the most contentious provisions is the reduction of healthcare provider taxes in Medicaid expansion states from 6% to 3.5% by 2031. Critics say the current tax model allows states to artificially increase their federal reimbursements, an approach some Republicans label 'money laundering.' However, slashing provider taxes could punch holes in state Medicaid budgets and impact hospital funding, especially in red states. Additionally, the Senate proposal would block non-expansion states from raising provider tax rates to draw more federal dollars. Two GOP aides noted the draft legislation goes further than the House version in tightening Medicaid eligibility requirements, a move the White House has cautiously supported to reduce potential program abuse, while still upholding Trump's pledge to protect federal health benefits. CBO flags $863b in Medicaid, CHIP cuts The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the House version of the bill would cut $863 billion from Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) over the next decade. The figure is likely to intensify scrutiny from within the Republican Party and draw significant public attention, especially from healthcare advocates and state officials. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Security concerns rise amid legislative tensions Amid the policy debates, lawmakers are also confronting rising safety concerns. In the wake of recent shootings involving two Minnesota state legislators and their spouses, incidents that left two people dead, members from both parties are calling for improved security measures for Congress and their families. Discussions involving House and Senate leadership, the U.S. Capitol Police, and other officials are underway as tensions on Capitol Hill continue to rise.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Vermont passes bill for towns to fund new construction, enacts other reforms
MONTPELIER, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) – A long-awaited compromise on housing that gives towns more options to fund building projects, a bill addressing the impact of social media on children that will likely face challenges in court, and a reform that will seal many criminal history records were among ten bills Vermont Governor Phil Scott signed into law Thursday. Senate Bill 127, on housing, was perhaps the bill that took the most work by both chambers of the state assembly. The bill establishes the Community Housing Infrastructure Program (CHIP), which lets cities and towns fund housing projects by taking out loans to be repaid later, with the increased tax revenue gained from the projects. It was passed by the Vermont Senate this past March, and went through a long process of amendment before final passage May 30. VT Governor calls for action on housing legislation This bill on housing also includes a provision to award up to $20,000 to people helping to build houses in empty lots, and establishes a state program to offer low-interest loans to cities and towns aiming to improve their infrastructure. Scott made a special statement on Senate Bill 69, the Vermont Kids Code, which you can read more about in its own article below. Vermont signs Kids Code into law, faces legal challenges Senate Bill 12 changes the procedures for sealing someone's criminal history after they have completed serving a sentence. Under previous Vermont law, when asking for a crime to be sealed the burden of proof is on the petitioner to show that sealing 'serves the interests of justice', while S. 12 moves this burden over to the state. The governor also signed S. 45, which protects farmers from nuisance lawsuits for activities that comply with generally accepted farming practice, S. 122, which funds several groups that aid small businesses in the state and explores the development of a convention center, and S. 126, which aims to lower health care costs by allowing 'reference-based pricing,' along with four other bills. VT House passes healthcare 'redesign', now goes to Senate The Vermont state legislature is currently scheduled to adjourn for the summer on June 17, The adjournment has already been postponed at least once as the legislature said it needed more time to work out important reforms. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
New report: WV education outcomes still nearly last in country, fewer kids attending preschool
Inside a Kanawha County elementary classroom in West Virginia. (Lexi Browning | West Virginia Watch) West Virginia's ranking for child well-being has made slight improvements, but the state is still struggling with students meeting basic academic benchmarks. The new Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation said that in 2024, 75% of West Virginia's fourth graders were not proficient in reading, and 82% of the state's eighth graders were not proficient in math. The annual report assesses childhood well-being in every state. The data showed that, nationally, students are struggling with reading and math since the COVID-19 pandemic's interruptions to learning. Plus, chronic absenteeism has become a major challenge. West Virginia ranks 45th in education, according to the report that was released earlier this week. 'State lawmakers have spent the last few years focusing on really a small sliver of the population by passing policies related to private school and home school,' said Kelly Allen, executive director of the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, which is West Virginia's member of the Casey Foundation's Kids Count network. 'We're always going to see most of our kids [receive] their education through public schools. So if we really want to boost these outcomes in education, we have to focus our efforts on where kids are, in our public school system,' she continued. Additionally, the number of children attending early childhood education programs worsened. Around 70% of West Virginia children ages three and four are not enrolled in school pre-school or child care, which is the second-worst rate in the country. The state is woefully short in child care programs, which Allen said has played a part in the decline of students attending preschool. 'Whether it's Head Start or pre-K or child care — and those are areas where we have seen backsliding or lack of investment from the state level — and we know early childhood education is so formative for children's future,' she said, adding that the state is spending less on child care than it did before the pandemic. West Virginia moved to 41st in child well-being — up from 44th last year. In 2023, 20% of West Virginia's kids lived in poverty, an improvement over the previous year's rate of 25%. The state is third best in the country for health insurance coverage, and only 3% of kids are uninsured. Many West Virginia children use the state's Medicaid Children's Health Insurance Program, known as CHIP, but potential federal cuts and changes to Medicaid could threaten that coverage. 'Children with health insurance are more likely to have a regular source of health care they can access for preventive services, developmental screenings and treatment for physical or mental health needs,' the report said. However, nearly 10% of babies were low birth weight, placing the state at 45th in that category. Low birth weight is a leading cause of infant death in the United States, and these babies have a higher probability of developmental problems and disabilities. The share of U.S. infants with a low birth weight has steadily worsened for more than 30 years, the report said, and the rate remains higher than most other peer nations. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Health Line
12-06-2025
- Health
- Health Line
A Guide to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is a federal agency that provides health coverage to millions of people. It oversees programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP. The CMS works closely with the entire healthcare community to improve the equity, quality, and outcomes within the healthcare system. What is CMS? CMS is the federal agency that helps provide health coverage for more than 160 million people across the United States. It oversees the following health insurance programs: Medicare Medicaid Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Health Insurance Marketplace CMS aims to strengthen and modernize the United States healthcare system and provide access to high quality care and improved health at lower costs. About Medicare Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people 65 years old and over. Those under 65 years old who have an eligible illness or disability may also qualify for coverage through Medicare. Medicare has four parts that offer different coverage for your healthcare needs: Part A: This is also known as hospital insurance. It covers inpatient care in facilities like hospitals and skilled nursing facilities. Part A also covers some home healthcare and hospice care. Part B: This is also known as medical insurance. It covers outpatient care and services you might receive from a doctor, specialist, or other healthcare professional. Part B also covers durable medical equipment (DME) and some home healthcare. Part C (Medicare Advantage): This is an alternative to Original Medicare (parts A and B). It offers the same coverage but is provided by Medicare-approved private insurance companies. Medicare Advantage plans also typically include prescription drug coverage (Part D) and additional benefits, such as vision, hearing, and dental. Part D: This offers prescription drug coverage. Part D plans are offered through Medicare-approved private insurance companies. If you have Original Medicare, you can purchase a stand-alone Part D plan from one of these companies. The CMS oversees and manages the Medicare program. The Social Security Administration (SSA) manages Medicare enrollment and income-related monthly adjustment amounts (IRMAA) for Part B and Part D. About Medicaid Medicaid is a health insurance program that is run by individual states according to federal requirements. It is funded by both the state and federal governments. Medicaid provides health coverage to around 71.1 million people, including: adults with lower incomes pregnant individuals children older adults people with disabilities It is possible for you to qualify for coverage from both Medicaid and Medicare at the same time. This can help reduce or eliminate your out-of-pocket costs. About Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) CHIP helps provide comprehensive health insurance benefits to children. Each state runs its own CHIP program, which means that the exact coverage and benefits may vary. While states can choose what benefits to offer in their CHIP program, there are certain healthcare services they must include: dental vaccines behavioral health well-baby and well-child visits About the Health Insurance Marketplace The Health Insurance Marketplace can help you find health coverage if you don't already have it through Medicare, Medicaid, or employment. It can also help you: find answers to questions about health insurance compare health insurance plans for affordability and coverage find out if you are eligible for tax credits for private insurance or health programs like Medicare and Medicaid enroll in a health insurance plan that meets your needs Summary The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is the federal agency that oversees health coverage programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). It has a mission to strengthen the United States health system and provide access to high quality care and improved health at lower costs. The information on this website may assist you in making personal decisions about insurance, but it is not intended to provide advice regarding the purchase or use of any insurance or insurance products. Healthline Media does not transact the business of insurance in any manner and is not licensed as an insurance company or producer in any U.S. jurisdiction. Healthline Media does not recommend or endorse any third parties that may transact the business of insurance.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
I'm a pediatric heart doctor. Medicaid cuts put half of Kentucky kids at risk.
As a pediatric cardiologist, my specialty is treating children's hearts, but as a pediatrician, I also recognize that surrounding each heart is a child. My job is to take care of both. Part of my job includes having hard conversations with expecting families about their child's abnormal heart, often trying to describe the complex heart diagnosis with a poorly drawn sketch on a sheet of printer paper. Through teary eyes and tissues in a claustrophobic exam room, I watch as plans for baby showers and nursery décor are quickly replaced by talk of heart surgery and hospital stays. When this diagnosis pulls the rug out from under these families, I hope to offer a soft landing place, a team of specialized pediatric providers to take care of these children as they undergo heart surgery — sometimes, in the first week of life. The reality, too, is that as families worry about their child's health, many are also often worried about the cost of care. This is a fear no family should face when it comes to getting the care their child needs. Gerth: Shouldn't police only violently assault people who commit crimes? | Opinion Many of these children will need access to specialized providers throughout their life to help them grow and thrive. Luckily, Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) — here in Kentucky, called KCHIP — serve as the backbone for caring for children with special health care needs, and approximately half of children I care for with heart disease rely on these programs for specialized care. Yet, right now these programs are at risk for sweeping cuts as Congress negotiates the budget. Any proposed funding cuts to Medicaid and CHIP would place these children at risk, and so many more in our state and across the country. I wish that these conversations I had with families were a rarity. However, heart disease that children are born with is the most common birth defect, occurring in almost 1% of births. Approximately a quarter of children born with abnormal hearts will need heart surgery or other interventions to survive. In Kentucky, Medicaid and KCHIP cover nearly half of children overall and more than half of children with special health care needs. These are the children whose hearts are represented by my drawings. I yearn for these children's smiling pictures as they live and grow with battle wounds of surgical scars, but I know that these heart warriors need our help. As someone who sees the importance of Medicaid and CHIP first-hand, I urge our Kentucky lawmakers to reject cuts to these vital programs. Because of these programs, my patients and so many more Kentucky children grow up healthy in our communities. Medicaid and CHIP are lifelines for children and families in our state, including the children who belong to these special hearts. We must protect these programs so patients like mine can thrive. Congress must do what's right and protect Medicaid and CHIP. Opinion Ark Encounter offers top canine training to police. Bible studies are optional. Allison K. Black, MD, FAAP is a pediatric cardiologist in Louisville. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Medicaid cuts could leave half of KY children without care | Opinion
