S. 2499 (Baucus)/Public Law 110-173

Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007
Status

Introduced on 12/18/07; passed Senate under unanimous consent on 12/18/07; passed House on 12/19/07 by a vote of 411 to 3; and signed into law by President Bush on 12/29/07; established as Public Law 110-173.
General Overview

Provides funding for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) through March 31, 2009.

Reauthorization of SCHIP and State Allotments
Appropriates $5 billion in funds for fiscal years (FY) 2008 and 2009, which are only available for services furnished on or before March 31, 2009. Appropriates up to $1.6 billion for additional allotments to states to eliminate funding shortfalls during FY 2008. Provides for redistribution of any unused state allotments for FY 2006 to cover shortfalls during the first two quarters of FY 2009 and appropriates an additional $275 million for this purpose. If these totals are insufficient to eliminate all state funding shortfalls, the additional payments to states will be reduced proportionately.

Coverage Expansions
No provision.

Other changes to SCHIP or Medicaid coverage for children
No provision

Outreach and enrollment
No provision.

Other provisions
Appropriates $20 million in FY 2008 only for improving data collection on uninsured children. (Prior law provides for an annual appropriation of $10 million.) Extends the Medicaid transitional medical assistance program, and the federal abstinence education program through June 2008, and makes other changes to Medicaid and Medicare.

Financing
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated the cost of the SCHIP extension to be $800 million; this cost is offset by savings from some of the Medicare provisions in the bill.

Effective Date
 SCHIP extension effective upon enactment.