Audit Recommends Florida Revise or Eliminate Requirement that Localities Contribute Funds To Participate in CHIP Program

The Florida Legislature should either revise or do away with a requirement that local communities contribute money in order to participate in Healthy Kids, the state's CHIP program, a state audit says (Sexton, Business Journal of Jacksonville, 1/11). Florida requires 35 of its 67 counties to share responsibility with the state for funding the Healthy Kids program (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 1/8/01). The Business Journal of Jacksonville reports that the local match is a "contentious subject among lawmakers," who last year eliminated the local match for this year. Gov. Jeb Bush (R) agreed to the elimination but promised to reinstate a "more equitable local match next year." A report issued by the state Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability says that one "more equitable" option involves reducing contributions from Alachua, Dade, Palm Beach and Volusia counties and increasing Duval County's match. But the report also "expresses concern" that the local match requirement would lead to waiting lists if counties fail to contribute the entire local match (Business Journal of Jacksonville, 1/11). For instance, Pinellas County last year was unable to come up with all of its local matching funds. Even though the state covered the 5,903 county children already enrolled in Healthy Kids, about 1,500 children who wanted to enroll in the program were placed on a waiting list (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 1/8).