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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah officials have warned federal health officials that the state will have to close a program that insures almost 20,000 lower-income children in the state if Congress doesn't renew funding for the program.
Utah Department of Health spokeswoman Kolbi Young says the state supports reauthorizing the program but sent a letter to the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Sept. 15 to notify officials that they'd have to end it.
Young says those covered by the state-federal program can continue getting services through December until funds run out.
The Children's Health Insurance Program covers immunizations, doctors' visits, prescriptions and other services.
Members of Congress have been working on a deal to renew funding for the program, which insures about 9 million children around the U.S., but have not yet passed an agreement.
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