Government
HHS shifts unspent SCHIP funds
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Feb. 7, 2005
The Dept. of Health and Human Services has used its administrative authority to move around $643 million in unspent 2002 funding for the State Children's Health Insurance Program. The money will be made available to 28 states with programs expected to run into shortfalls this year. Funds allocated to the SCHIP program expire at the end of three years if unused and are returned to the treasury.
"I am very pleased that we can take action to prevent any loss or break in coverage because program funds weren't being used by states that need them the most," said Mark McClellan, MD, PhD, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/02/07/gvbf0207.htm.
