Idaho to move kids to Medicaid if Congress doesn’t save CHIP

Many depend on the Children’s Health Insurance Program to help pay for their child’s medical care. More than 22,000 Idaho children were on CHIP as of October.

But the program is at risk of losing its federal funding, which could put new costs on the state.

Congress failed to reauthorize the program in the fall, halting new funding. Idaho and all other states now are spending the last of their money for CHIP while lawmakers debate how to pay for the program’s renewal.

The Idaho Statesman reports the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is working on a possible contingency plan if Congress fails to act. It will put CHIP kids on Medicaid, which would keep them covered and allow them to keep seeing the same health care providers.