Trending News Today: Opioid Epidemic Funding Timeline in Question

Health care groups are asking states to void an executive order recently signed by President Donald Trump, The Hill reported. The order would ease Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandates and increase the availability of “skinny” health plans, according to the article. However, advocacy groups said the order would result in healthier individuals enrolling in the skinny plans and raise premiums for those with traditional ACA plans, in addition to furthering market instability. The groups cautioned that patients with pre-existing conditions would be especially affected by the order, according to the article.

Both Democrats and Republicans are unsure of how to renew funding for the bipartisan Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), according to Politico. Despite running out of funding at the end of September 2017, lawmakers have yet to come up with a bipartisan reauthorization bill. A recent poll showed that CHIP is a top priority for Democrats, with some willing to shut down the government to ensure the program is funded, according to the article.

There may not be additional funding available to fight the opioid epidemic by the end of the year, according to STAT. In a press conference, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders did not indicate whether opioid funding would be included in a stopgap spending bill or in a long-term budget agreement. Sanders said that the opioid epidemic would not be a quick fix, but it will be addressed by the Trump administration, according to the article.