Kentucky Makes CHIP Program Re-enrollment Process More ‘Stringent’

After reviewing the first three months of data from a yearlong study on the state's self-reporting income system for CHIP program enrollment, Kentucky officials have decided to "tighte[n]" the enrollment process and double-check eligibility of already enrolled children, the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer reports. Barbara Hadley Smith, director of the Office for Communications for the Cabinet for Health Services, said, "The preliminary figures showed that there were some people who technically were not eligible" that are in the program. She added that there are no available figures on how many families were discovered to be ineligible, but said there "were not large numbers." Beginning June 1, parents with children in KCHIP must present proof of income and attend interviews during the re-enrollment process. Those regulations previously had been in place, but the state eliminated them to expand the program, the Messenger-Inquirer reports. Smith said, "The state was most interested in getting people into the system. ... I think now they think there needs to be a little more monitoring." State health employees also will be examining active files of program participants to determine if any individual is ineligible. One official said that if "fraud is determined, then some people may have to reimburse the state." The Medicaid recertification process is becoming "a little more stringent as well," the Messenger-Inquirer reports. Although Medicaid applicants previously had to have personal interviews only during the initial application process, they now will also be required to do so during the re-enrollment process. Margaret Tichenor, service region administrator associate for the Department of Community Based Services in the Green River region, said, "There is some thought that some people ... may have not reported their income properly" (Carrico, Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer, 5/2).