Research & Reports
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SCHIP’s Financing Structure
This issue brief discusses the basic financing for the SCHIP program, including the rules governing how SCHIP funds can be used and the mechanisms used to distribute available SCHIP funds to the states.
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Medicaid Changes: What Will They Mean for Broward and Duval Counties, and Beyond?
In December 2005, Governor Bush signed into law a bill authorizing implementation of the state’s major Medicaid redesign in two pilot counties, Broward and Duval. This issue brief provides details of Florida’s program, the changes that will occur, and the proposed evaluation of the pilot. This issue brief was released as part of the Assessing…
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Instability of Public Health Insurance Coverage for Children and Their Families: Causes, Consequences, and Remedies
This report examines the extent, causes, and consequences of instability in public coverage programs for children and families, focusing particularly on the phenomenon of “churning,” which occurs when individuals lose and regain coverage in a short period of time. It also provides strategies that can make public program coverage more stable.
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What Will West Virginia’s “Medicaid Redesign” Mean For Children?
This issue brief discusses West Virginia’s approved state plan amendment to redesign its Medicaid program. The approved plan allows West Virginia to reduce Medicaid beneficiaries’ access to medical services if they—or, in the case of children, their parents—are deemed to be out of compliance with a range of behavioral requirements. The issue brief also examines…
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Vermont’s Global Commitment Waiver: Implications for the Medicaid Program
By Jocelyn Guyer Vermont secured approval in the fall of 2005 for a waiver allowing the state to use federal Medicaid funds to refinance a broad array of its own, non-Medicaid health programs. It also gave Vermont new flexibility to reduce benefits, increase cost-sharing, and cap enrollment for many Medicaid beneficiaries. This issue brief describes…
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The Deficit Reduction Act: A Review of Key Medicaid Provisions Affecting Children and Families
The Deficit Reduction Act, signed into law by President Bush on February 8, 2006, includes significant changes to Medicaid coverage rules affecting children and families that are designed to reduce federal spending. This issue brief reviews changes in Medicaid’s benefit, cost-sharing, and premium standards. It also examines a citizenship documentation requirement and a “health opportunity…
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Medicaid’s Role for Children in the United States
By Jocelyn Guyer Lutheran Services in America, Public Policy Committee – Presentation Document February 2006
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Georgia’s Medicaid Program: A Briefing for Community Leaders
This issue brief serves as a primer for policymakers, community leaders, and health care providers who will be assessing the benefits and costs of proposed changes, through a Section 1115 waiver, to Georgia’s Medicaid program. It provides basic facts on Georgia’s Medicaid program, explores key features of Section 1115 waivers, and poses questions for policymakers…
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What Will Florida’s “Medicaid Choice” Waiver Proposal Mean For Children?
On October 19, 2005, Florida received approval for a Section 1115 Medicaid Choice proposal from the federal government, moving the Medicaid program to a premium-based system, among other things. This issue brief summarizes how these changes affect children as it is implemented, first in two counties and then across the state.
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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.…
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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.
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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.
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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…
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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…
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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.
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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.