North Carolina one of 21 states set to run out of S-CHIP funds

From the New York Times, via the RWJF Health Insurance Coverage, we find that the Congressional Research Service has finished a study that says 21 states will run out of money to fund their Children's Health Insurance Program during the coming year if Congress continues spending at current levels.

The result?

States, unsure of federal money, are drafting contingency plans in case it runs short.

Officials in charge of the child health program in California said Tuesday that they were adopting rules to allow the state to create a waiting list and to remove some of the 1.1 million children already on the rolls.

“The stalemate in Washington is having a real impact on children here,” said Lesley S. Cummings, executive director of the agency that runs the child health program in California. “Given continued uncertainty, we will have to start dropping children from the program — 64,000 a month, starting in January — to save money. This is getting less and less hypothetical.”

Photo from the original NYTs article after the break, showing the 21 states who will run out of funds including our own North Carolina.

If you care about the state of health care in North Carolina, I strongly suggest you join Health Care for All NC. If you are in Western North Carolina, attend a forum on fixing the broken system tomorrow in Asheville featuring Rep. Susan Fisher. If you are in the Triangle, attend this forum in Raleigh featuring Dr. Jane Mccaleb.