The New York Times editorial board blasted President Donald Trump's administration and Congressional leaders Wednesday for failing to reauthorize the Children's Health Insurance Program.
The board also called on the administration to pass legislation that would stabilize ACA marketplaces, which they argue could "undo some of the damage Mr. Trump has done through administrative action."
The board believes the newly drafted Alexander-Murray bill, which funds cost-sharing subsidies for two years, has the potential to pass because of its concessions for state flexibility through innovation waivers. However, these do not endanger protections for those with pre-existing conditions. The bill also reinstates funding for ACA enrollment outreach that President Trump previously slashed.
The future of CHIP funding is even more up in the air, according to the board . Though the program is essential for providing insurance coverage to 9 million low-income children, disagreements between Republicans and Democrats in the House over how the bill should be funded have effectively stalled the legislation.
"So far, neither Mr. Trump nor Republican leaders in Congress have taken these vital matters very seriously. Mr. Trump has made several contradictory statements about the Alexander-Murray proposal, and he has not said much of anything about children's health insurance," the board wrote.