What Happens if SCHIP Is Not âReauthorizedâ? (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Revised Sept. 17, 2007 |
| Report Number |
RS22712 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Chris L. Peterson, Domestic Social Policy Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
| Older Revisions |
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Summary:
The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 created the State Children's Health InsuranceProgram (SCHIP) and provided nearly $40 billion in appropriations over the 10-yearperiod FY1998 to FY2007. Legislative action would be necessary to provide new fundsfor SCHIP for FY2008 and beyond, but SCHIP's statutory provisions do not need to bereauthorized as they will remain on the books unless Congress expressly repeals thecurrent law. In the absence of an FY2008 SCHIP allotment, states with unexpendedFY2006 and FY2007 federal SCHIP balances could continue to operate their programswith those funds in FY2008. Fourteen states and the District of Columbia are projectedto be able to cover all of their federal FY2008 SCHIP spending even without an FY2008SCHIP allotment. Among the 36 states projected to exhaust their federal SCHIP fundsin FY2008, some may be able to access Medicaid funding, though at a reduced matchingrate compared to SCHIP. However, 13 states would be in shortfall immediately,entering FY2008 with no prior-year SCHIP balances. An amount equal toapproximately 18 days of these states' federal SCHIP expenditures is projected to beavailable from the redistribution of unspent FY2005 allotments. This report may beupdated in December 2007 with states' more recent projections.
