CHIP
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New CMS CHIPRA Guidance Coming – Straight from the Source
By Joe Touschner As we all follow the twists and turns of health care reform in Congress, it’s easy to forget that the critical children’s health legislation that’s already been passed this year–CHIPRA–is well on its way to being implemented. CMS Medicaid and State Operations Director Cindy Mann (CCF’s former fearless leader) took the time…
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Children in Health Care Reform: Where Things Stand
With so much round-the-clock activity on health care reform, it is sometimes hard to keep all the facts straight on where things are for kids. We released a fact sheet today that we hope helps to provide a roadmap on the child and family provisions in the leading health reform proposals: House bill (H.R. 3962)…
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National Summit Kicks Off Renewed Outreach and Enrollment Effort
An enthusiastic crowd of more than 500 gathered in Chicago last week for the National Children’s Health Insurance Summit hosted by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare (CMS). Attendees included CHIPRA outreach grantees, individuals from community-based and provider organizations, national and state experts, and officials from federal and state government. The purpose of the event…
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House Health Reform Bill: Fact Sheet on Child and Family Provisions
Yesterday evening, the House released revisions (referred to as a manager’s amendment) to its health reform bill, H.R. 3962. Leadership could now potentially bring the bill to the House floor by this weekend, but the schedule is still undecided. CCF has released a fact sheet to help guide you through the bill’s (with the new…
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What a Novel Idea: Making Sure No Newborn Leaves the Hospital Uninsured!
New Jersey is putting this idea to the test with its new “Insured for Sure” initiative that is being piloted in nine New Jersey hospitals. Hospital staff will check the insurance status of all newborns and provide data to the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) verifying a baby’s coverage under the parent’s insurance.…
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House Releases Health Reform Bill: A Quick Look at the Child and Family Provisions
Yesterday the House Leadership released its merged health reform bill, The Affordable Health Care for Americans Act of 2009. It includes some noteworthy changes with respect to kids and families from the previous version of the bill. Here are some highlights: Raises the mandatory Medicaid threshold from 133% to 150% FPL. CBO estimates that by…
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Health Reform Bill’s Pediatric Dental Benefit Could Have A Tremendous Impact on Children’s Health
Meg Booth, Deputy Executive Director, Children’s Health Dental Project In the past months of health reform debate, we at Children’s Dental Health Project have continuously heard the surprise and elation that all of the House and Senate Committees debating this issue included a dental benefit for children as part of their proposals. The disappointment later…
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NBC Nightly News Covers Cut to Parent Coverage in Arizona
By Joe Touschner As any parent who has faced the challenge of being sick and trying to fulfill their parenting duties will tell you – the well-being of children is highly dependent on the well-being of their parents. That’s why it is so important that federal health reform include affordable health care options that will…
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New CHIPRA Dental Standards: A Victory for Kids!
CMS released the latest in a series of state health official letters providing guidance on CHIPRA implementation. This seventh letter focuses on the new mandatory dental provisions for separate CHIP programs, as well as the option these states have to provide a stand-alone dental plan to children who are insured or underinsured but would otherwise…
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States are Not Waiting for Health Reform Passage to Move Forward on Children’s Health Coverage
By Martha Heberlein Today, three more states moved forward with their plans to expand affordable health coverage to more uninsured children, implementing expansions they passed earlier in the year. These three states are among the twenty-three that improved child and family health coverage this year. Starting today: Uninsured Alabama children in families earning up to…
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HHS Awards $40 Million in Outreach and Enrollment Grants
Yesterday, Secretary Sebelius awarded $40 million to 69 grantees in 41 states and the District of Columbia to find and enroll children who are uninsured but eligible for Medicaid or CHIP. This is the first round of outreach and enrollment grants funded through the Children’s Health Insurance Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA), which was signed by President…
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Digging in Deeper on the Question of Affordable Premiums in the Senate Finance Committee Mark
By Martha Heberlein What is “affordable” has long been a hot-button issue in the health reform debate. In fact, much of the criticism following the release of the Senate Finance Committee mark centered on this very question. Although there is no consensus on the definition, looking at how much low-income families in public program currently…
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Senate Finance Committee Moves Forward: Key Issues for Child and Family Coverage
By Jocelyn Guyer The Senate Finance Committee began its markup yesterday and moved into high gear today, taking votes for the first time on amendments. Senator Baucus released his mark last Wednesday, September 15th and was immediately deluged with over 500 amendments. Yesterday, he released a revised version that incorporates some of the amendments. From…
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CHIPRA Can Help Improve Health Care for Non-English Speakers
Jon Peacock, Wisconsin Council on Children and Families The Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) approved by Congress early this year gives states financial assistance and policy options that help states maintain and improve coverage of kids. One source of financial assistance that has gotten less attention is an enhanced federal match rate for…
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Enrollment Reopens in California’s CHIP Program
Just two months after freezing enrollment in the Healthy Families Program and initiating a waitlist, enrollment has reopened in California Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). A budget shortfall of just under $200 million has been plugged by a generous contribution from the state’s First Five Commission, increased family cost-sharing, and a new premium tax on…
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Postcards from CCF — Tennessee
This month, CCF is heading to Nashville, Tennessee to listen to the new beat coming out of “Music City, USA.” Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen recently changed his tune and announced that on March 1, enrollment will resume for CoverKids, the state’s CHIP program. The Governor had frozen enrollment in November but, after a public outcry,…
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Good News for Uninsured Children Should Jumpstart Health Reform
By Jocelyn Guyer In 2008, the number of uninsured children in the United States hit the lowest level in two decades. If Congress weren’t in the middle of a fierce debate on health reform, there would be time for everyone to celebrate a remarkable achievement and maybe even pause to reflect on how it was…
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Number of Uninsured Children Drops to Lowest Level Since 1987, Outlook Bleaker for Parents and Other Adults
By Jocelyn Guyer The new Census report shows that the number of uninsured children in the United States is at the lowest level since 1987. In 2008, there were 7.3 million uninsured children, a decline of 800,000 from 8.1 million in 2007. This progress occurred despite reductions in private health insurance coverage and a difficult…
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The Stories of Jacob and Isabel: Will Their Needs Be Met by Health Reform?
As health reform discussions continue, one key question that will be addressed is what benefits will children be eligible for and how much will they cost? Because they are growing and developing, children have a distinct set of health care needs that evolve over time and differ from those of adults. Moreover, while as a…
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Implementation Choices for the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009
The Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) of 2009 has the potential to transform children’s health care in the United States. This report analyzes selected provisions of the legislation that involve outreach and enrollment, as well as child health quality and measurement. Using input from interviews with a range of stakeholders and a panel…