2005
-
Children’s Health in the Balance: What’s At Stake for Children in the Congressional Budget Debate over Medicaid
This issue brief compares the House of Representatives and Senate versions of the fiscal year 2006 budget bill. Both versions limit federal health care spending, but in very different ways that would have profound consequences for children. The implications of these budget proposals are discussed in detail. President Bush signed into law a final fiscal…
-
A Summary of Federal Medicaid Cost-Sharing and Premium Standards: Current Law v. The House Budget Bill
By Jocelyn Guyer This brief provides a comparison of federal Medicaid rules governing premiums and cost-sharing in effect as of November 2005 with those proposed in the fiscal year 2006 House of Representatives budget bill passed on November 15, 2005. The House bill gives states new flexibility to vary premium and cost-sharing charges by group…
-
Six Million Children on Medicaid Could Be Subject To Dramatically Higher Premiums and Cost-Sharing Charges under the House Budget Bill
By Jocelyn Guyer This issue brief focuses on premium and cost-sharing changes in the fiscal year 2006 House of Representatives budget bill passed on November 15, 2005. The bill gives states broad flexibility to impose premiums and other cost-sharing mechanisms, as well as increase the maximum amounts states can charge beneficiaries. The implications of these…
-
Closing the Coverage Gap: Trends in Health Insurance Coverage for Children
From 1996-97 to 2003-04, the uninsured rate of low-income children was reduced by a third; however, the national data mask significant variation across the states in how children are faring. To provide a state-specific perspective on the issue, this brief examines health insurance trends for children in all 50 states and the District of Columbia…
-
Cost-Sharing Provisions in the Energy and Commerce Medicaid Package: Key Issues for Children and Families
By Jocelyn Guyer On October 27, 2005 the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee adopted a proposal to reduce federal Medicaid spending and alter federal standards that ensure coverage remains affordable. This issue brief details the proposed changes and the impact they will likely have on children and adults with disabilities or chronic conditions.…
-
Premium Assistance Programs: How are They Financed and Do States Save Money
Premium assistance programs use federal and state Medicaid and/or SCHIP funds to subsidize the purchase of private health insurance. This issue brief examines premium assistance programs implemented in five states to determine how they are financed, their eligibility, benefit, and cost-sharing requirements, their methods for determining cost-effectiveness, and cost savings.
-
Differences That Make A Difference: Comparing Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program Federal Benefit Standards
This issue brief analyzes the differences between Medicaid and SCHIP’s benefit standards. It reviews the health care guarantees that children would lose if the Medicaid standard were replaced by SCHIP-like rules.
-
Why Medicaid Matters: The Frontline Perspectives of People with Chronic Conditions
This report begins with a review of how Medicaid supports people with chronic conditions, focusing on the strong benefit and cost-sharing standards that apply nationwide to assure that the coverage provided is both comprehensive and affordable. It also presents some of the consequences to people and their health that could result from changes under policy…
-
Proposed Medicaid Changes Called “Devastating” for Hardworking Families
Washington — The devastating impact of proposed Medicaid changes on America’s most vulnerable citizens was demonstrated today as families and children living with chronic diseases and/or disabilities testified to the vital role Medicaid plays in their lives. At the event, co-sponsored by the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University’s Health Policy Institute (CCF)…
-
Understanding Florida’s Medicaid Waiver Application
This issue brief provides an overview of Florida’s Section 1115 Medicaid waiver request to the federal government. It highlights those affected by the proposed changes and describes benefits, potential cost-sharing, and an “opt-out” provision included in the waiver. This issue brief and presentation are part of the Florida’s Health at Risk project, a series of…
-
NGA’s Short-Run Proposal for Cost-Sharing In Medicaid: Key Implications for Children
In August 2005, the National Governors Association released a Medicaid reform proposal that, among other things, calls for significantly increasing the amount that states can charge low-income Medicaid beneficiaries. This issue brief outlines the provisions of the proposal, detailing the implications for low-income children and their families.
-
New Data Show Decline in the Percent of Children without Health Insurance
This issue brief analyzes data released by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. It shows that from 1996 to 2004 the uninsured rate among children declined, largely due to public coverage programs available for children.
-
CCF Identifies Medicaid, SCHIP as Pivotal in Closing the Insurance Gap for Nation’s Children
Together, Medicaid and SCHIP have reduced the uninsure d rate of lowincome children by one-thi rd, yet new report cautions that debated program changes, cost-cutting me asures imperil these successes Washington, D.C. – On the eve of the 40th anniversary of Medicaid, and in the midst of ongoing debate about its future, the Center for…
-
Understanding Florida’s Medicaid Reform Legislation
Florida Senate Bill 838, signed into law in June 2005, permits Florida Governor Bush to seek a Section 1115 Medicaid waiver from the federal government to substantially restructure the state’s Medicaid program. This brief examines the legislation. This issue brief and presentation are part of the Florida’s Health at Risk project, a series of educational…
-
Federal Medicaid Benefit Standards: Questions and Issues Raised By the NGA’s Preliminary Recommendations
Author: Cindy Mann In June 2005, the National Governor’s Association released a preliminary Medicaid reform proposal that, among other things, recommends that states be permitted to provide different groups of children and adults with different benefit plans. This issue brief summarizes the proposal’s benefit recommendations and identifies some of the key questions and issues they…
-
A Success Story: Closing the Insurance Gap for America’s Children through Medicaid and SCHIP
After providing a brief background on Medicaid and SCHIP, this issue brief summarizes the available evidence to determine what the effect of the programs has been on the uninsured rate of low-income children. In addition, it examines the extent to which Medicaid and SCHIP provide children with access to needed care and whether the coverage…
-
ACA Protects and Improves Preventive Care for Kids
More than half of America’s children have gained or maintained access to preventive care services as a result of the Affordable Care Act. Preventive care keeps children healthy and more likely to avoid expensive trips to the ER for treatable conditions like asthma. Read CCF’s report: “ACA Protects and Improves Access to Preventive Care for Children.”
-
Cost Sharing In Medicaid: Issues Raised By the NGA’s Preliminary Recommendations
By Jocelyn Guyer In June 2005, the National Governor’s Association released a preliminary Medicaid reform proposal that, among other things, recommends changing Medicaid cost-sharing policies, largely to mirror those applied to children under SCHIP. This issue brief reviews the existing cost-sharing provisions in SCHIP and identifies key issues that arise from the proposal to apply…
-
What Arizona’s CHIP Experience Can Tell Us About the Next Phase of Children’s Coverage
“Dismantling CHIP in Arizona: How Losing KidsCare Impacts a Child’s Health Care Costs” examines children’s health care utilization and finds that under almost all scenarios, families face higher costs in the marketplace compared to KidsCare.
-
A Closer Look at CHIP Benefits in Each State
“Benefits and Cost Sharing in Separate CHIP Programs,” co-authored with the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP), finds that overall, separate CHIP programs provide comprehensive coverage and substantial financial protection for families. When combined with states that use CHIP to fund children’s coverage through Medicaid, three out of four states use CHIP funding to provide…
