CHIP

It's been nearly a year since Florida began reviewing Medicaid eligibility, and since then nearly half-a-million children have lost insurance. Many of them have fallen into a gap without coverage, including some with cancer.

The Biden administration is requiring states give CHIP beneficiaries 12 months of continuous coverage, even if families don't pay monthly premiums. State lawyers say premiums are needed for expansion of coverage signed into law last year.

The regulator says the deal would give the combined company too much power, hurt competition and raise prices for consumers. It comes as a global shortage of chips wreaks havoc on the economy.

With another federal budget deadline looming, there's a push to add provisions to a spending bill that would help community health centers and other providers of health services for low-income people.

The Children's Health Insurance Program drew bipartisan support for two decades. After brinkmanship over the federal budget, an agreement to end the shutdown has assured CHIP funding for six years.

A brief, partial shutdown of the federal government ended Monday, as the Senate and House approved legislation that would keep federal dollars flowing...

Doctors are telling families to refill prescriptions now. Other physicians are giving away drugs to make sure patients have enough if the Children's Health Insurance Program goes unfunded.