- As Shutdown Continues, Children's Health Insurance Hangs in the Balance Governing by Mattie Quinn — Unable to strike a budget deal, the federal government shutdown on Saturday, causing the most uncertainty to date for providers and patients in the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which Congress let expire more than 100 days ago. Congress has continually released unspent funds in the last few months to help states keep CHIP running, but this is the first time there could be a significant lapse in what has historically been a bipartisan program. Senators are expected to hold a procedural vote on a short-term spending bill on Monday at noon, but its details have not been released. It's unclear what — if any — funding the bill includes for children's health insurance.
- How the Shutdown Might Affect Your Health Kaiser Health News — A government shutdown will have far-reaching effects for public health, including the nation's response to the current, difficult flu season. It will also disrupt some federally supported health services, experts said Friday. In all, the Department of Health and Human Services will send home — or furlough — about half of its employees, or nearly 41,000 people, according to an HHS shutdown contingency plan released Friday. Here are some federal services and programs consumers might be wondering about: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, Medicaid, community health centers, ACA premium subsidies, veterans affairs, the Food and Drug Administration, and nutrition services for seniors.
- Deportation Fears Have Legal Immigrants Avoiding Health Care Associated Press by Kelli Kennedy — The number of legal immigrants from Latin American nations who access public health services and enroll in federally subsidized insurance plans has dipped substantially since President Donald Trump took office, many of them fearing their information could be used to identify and deport relatives living in the U.S. illegally, according to health advocates across the country. Trump based his campaign on promises to stop illegal immigration and deport any immigrants in the country illegally, but many legal residents and U.S. citizens are losing their health care as a result, advocates say.