The Louisiana Experience: Successful Steps to Improve Retention in Medicaid and SCHIP

Over the past decade, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals has taken a series of progressive and innovative steps to reduce the number of children who lose Medicaid or CHIP (known as LaCHIP) coverage at renewal for reasons not related to eligibility. In 2008, less than 1% of children enrolled in Louisiana’s LaCHIP program lost coverage due to procedural or administrative reasons compared to other states where as many as half of enrolled children lose coverage at renewal. Thus, Louisiana’s experience serves as a model for retention policy and process improvements.

Tricia Brooks is a Research Professor at the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy’s Center for Children and Families.

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