Senators have cleared a number of remaining amendments to the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (S. 275). A vote on final passage is forthcoming.
- Coburn Amendment – This amendment would have provided assistance to help individuals work toward obtaining private insurance coverage. Senators defeated it by a vote of 36 to 62.
- Bunning Amendment - This amendment would have removed an exemption for New York & New Jersey which allows them to provide SCHIP coverage to families above 300% of the federal poverty level. Senators voted to table, or kill, the amendment by a vote of 54 to 44.
- Hatch Amendment - This amendment would have codified an HHS regulation that gives states the option of providing SCHIP coverage to children before birth by defining “child” as anyone from conception to 18 years of age. Senators voted to defeat the amendment by a margin of 39 to 59.
- DeMint Amendment - This amendment would provide all eligible families with an above-the-line income tax deduction for each child comparable to the average share of government benefits given to children of non-citizens covered under the SCHIP bill. Senators defeated the amendment by a vote of 40 to 58.
- Coburn Amendment – This amendment would state that before New York can provide SCHIP coverage to those children whose families make an income above 400% of the federal poverty level, their Medicaid improper payment rates must be in line with the rest of federal government. Senator Coburn (R-OK) said that New York accounted for 50% of current fraud within the program. Senators defeated the amendment by Voice Vote.
- Bingaman Amendment – This amendment would clarify that, under an express-lane eligibility provision, the consent of a parent for the enrollment of a child into the SCHIP program can be accomplished through something other than a formal signed document at a Medicaid office. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) vehemently opposed this amendment on the floor saying it weakened fraud protections under the program and that it violated a compromise in last year’s bill that required a valid signature. Senators adopted the amendment by a vote of 55 to 43.
- Hutchison Amendment – This amendment would allow states with the highest percentage of uninsured children to be given priority for outreach & enrollment under the SCHIP program. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) said that a Congressional Budget Office “score” noted that such a provision would actually save money in the bill. Senators defeated this amendment by a vote of 17 to 81.
This list is not yet complete and will be updated later tonight.
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