Oregon Receives Approval to Boost CHIP Enrollment Cap by 3,000 Children

Last week, HCFA granted Oregon approval to enroll an additional 3,000 children in its separate, non-Medicaid CHIP program, the Portland Oregonian reports. Enrollment in Oregon's CHIP program is open to children ages 6 to 18 in families earning up to 170% of the federal poverty level, or about $30,000 annually for a family of four. The state had capped enrollment in the program, which is funded with revenue from the state's share of the national tobacco settlement, at 16,800 children. But because "demand for adult coverage" in Oregon Health Plan, the state's health plan for low-income adults, was lower than expected last year, officials from the state Office of Medical Assistance Programs in December petitioned HCFA to cover more children through CHIP. The amendment approval does not change the eligibility guidelines, but raises the number of children the state is able to enroll to approximately 19,800 (Colburn, Portland Oregonian, 3/15).