Government Healthcare Policy, Business and Technology

After More Than 100 Days, Children's Health Insurance Saga Nears End

Governing: Three days into a shutdown of the federal government, Congress appears to have reached a deal to reopen it and fund the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for six years.

The Senate agreed 81-18 on Monday afternoon to pass the short-term spending bill, which would fund the government through Feb. 8 and give Congress more time to work out a deal on immigration. The House and President Trump are expected to sign off on it later today.

CHIP, which expired more than 100 days ago, insures 9 million low-income children and pregnant women who don’t have employer-based insurance but make too much money to qualify for Medicaid. It's jointly funded by the federal government and states, but the feds foot almost 80 percent of the bill.

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