U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, will delay floor consideration of the Children's Health Insurance Program funding bill in order to try and negotiate democratic support for the proposal, according to The Hill.
CHIP funding expired Sept. 30, and though GOP House leaders were able to draft a proposal to reauthorize funding, it garnered no support from Democrats, who complained the bill took away money from Medicare and ACA public health funds.
"I am pleased to know that Democrats are willing to seriously consider reasonable, bipartisan ways to offset the cost of CHIP and important public health priorities like community health centers, the National Health Service Corps and the special diabetes program," Mr. Walden said, according to The Hill.
However, Mr. Walden said he will only participate in bipartisan talks until the end of the week. If the two sides have not come to a new agreement by then, the bill, as written, will move to a markup period.
"With multiple state CHIP and public health programs on countdown clocks, if the minority wants to reach a bipartisan agreement, time is of the essence," Mr. Walden said, according to The Hill.
The Senate Finance Committee has already passed a five-year CHIP reauthorization, though the bill did not specify how the program would be funded.
More Articles on Leadership:
NYC Health + Hospitals chief to leave more jobs unfilled to cope with cash-flow crisis
Daniel Resnick ranked among America’s Top 500 Next-Gen Wealth Advisors by Forbes
26 pediatricians, specialists leave Mississippi hospital in 1 year