Congress lets funds expire for children's insurance program

Federal funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) has not been renewed by Congress. CHIP provides insurance to over 125,000 Minnesota women and children.

Emergency funding was provided to the state for the months of October and November, but now that money is gone and the state is footing the bill. That's according to Department of Health and Human Services commissioner Emily Piper.

Paying for the program has put the entire state budget out of whack.

Piper joined MPR News host Tom Weber to discuss how this impacts children and pregnant women in Minnesota. DHS oversees CHIP.

Use the audio player above to listen to their discussion.

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