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Gov. David Ige’s administration will pull back an emergency funding request for $9.3 million now that Congress has reached a
deal to extend federal
funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program for another six years.
The state Department
of Human Services had calculated that unless Congress extended funding for CHIP, the Hawaii program would run out of money late next month. Ige then submitted an emergency funding request to the state Legislature on Monday to
ensure the program could continue operating with state funds.
As it turns out, that emergency funding won’t be necessary.
When Congress last week approved a measure to allow the federal government to resume operations until Feb. 8, it also agreed to fund CHIP for the next six years. The program provides health coverage for about 25,000 Hawaii children.
Department of Human Services Director Pankaj Bhanot said in a written statement Tuesday that
“we are thankful that Congress has reauthorized the Children’s Health Insurance Program.”
“Hawaii has always been committed to ensuring our keiki have access to quality health care,” he said in the statement. “This reauthorization embodies our shared commitment for caring for our kids, including the 25,000 children currently covered under QUEST
Integration.”