Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey may tap the state's rainy day fund to keep health care coverage for 23,000 Arizona children until Congress finally acts.
The governor said Tuesday that both the House and Senate are weighing legislation to restore funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program that provides free care for children in families earning up to twice the federal poverty level.
“We have every confidence that this is going to move through our Congress," Ducey said. "We’re advocating for this. We’re working with members of our delegation. We have the expectation this will pass.”
Cash for the program ran out when the federal fiscal year ended Sept. 30.
In the interim, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has used unspent dollars from the just-ended budget year to keep the program alive, but those funds are expected to dry up by the middle of December.
For reaction to that, we’re joined by Dana Naimark. She is president and CEO of Children’s Action Alliance.
