Despite Congress approving $2.85 billion in short-term funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program last month, CMS said some states may be out of program money by mid-January, Kaiser Health News reports.
Here are three things to know about CHIP funding right now.
1. The $2.85 billion in short-term funding was intended to maintain states' CHIP programs through March 31.
2. However, CMS said Friday some states could deplete funds by Jan. 19, forcing them to freeze enrollment or shut down CHIP programs. CMS spokesperson Johnathan Monroe told Kaiser Health News, "due to a number of variables relating to state expenditure rates and reporting, we are unable to say with certainty whether there is enough funding for every state to continue its CHIP program through March 31, 2018."
3. The agency did not name which states may face this early shortfall. CMS said it is discussing possible solutions with states.