Government
Senators introduce bill to close SCHIP funding gap
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Feb. 12, 2007
Senators have introduced bipartisan legislation that would provide the $745 million needed by 14 states to run their State Children's Health Insurance Programs through Sept. 30, the end of fiscal 2007. The bill was introduced by Sens. Ted Kennedy (D, Mass.), Jay Rockefeller (D, W.Va.) and Olympia Snowe (R, Maine).
The lawmakers hope to attach the bill to a fiscal year 2007 spending package, which is expected to be passed in coming weeks. Late last year, Congress redistributed $271 million in SCHIP dollars to states facing shortfalls -- enough to keep states' programs from running into deficits until the first week of May.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2007/02/12/gvbf0212.htm.
