Congress Sends An Extension of the SCHIP to President Bush..

December 20, 2007 - Congress Sends An Extension of the SCHIP to President Bush.. Bush vetoed the 2nd bill expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)on December 12. The extension through March 2009 was part of legislation that also gave physicians a 0.5 percent rate increase when they treat the elderly and disabled in Medicare. Physicians had been scheduled to take a 10 percent cut. The reprieve for doctors will last until June 30. The House leadership has scheduled a vote for January 23, 2008 to attempt to override that veto. It appears that the House will not be able to muster the 2/3 vote necessary to override the veto. Late last week there was talk regarding a short term extension of the current SCHIP program through March 31, 2008. However, on December 17, negotiators agreed to extend the current SCHIP program through March 31, 2009 with a small increase in funding necessary for the states to maintain their current enrollment through that date. There will be no increase in tobacco taxes to fund that modest increase. While it is always possible that the Democrats will introduce another SCHIP bill in 2008 to force the Republicans to vote on the issue, it now appears likely that the issue will be pushed into 2009. ( "Current SCHIP Program to be Extended to 2009 Veto Override Attempt of Current SCHIP Legislation Unlikely" by Chris McCalla, Ligislative Director, International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Assoc., 12/18/2007) Dr. Marina L. Weiss of the March of Dimes, "It is extremely unfortunate