Virginia, Texas Should Invest More Funds, Effort in CHIP Programs, Editorials Suggest

Virginia's attempts to enroll children in the state's CHIP program, called Family Access To Medical Insurance Security, or FAMIS, have yielded "disappointing" results, and the state must "find more effective ways to spread the word" about the program, a Norfolk Virginian-Pilot editorial states. Although an estimated 63,200 children are eligible for coverage, only 39,000 have been enrolled since the program began in 1998. Noting that one of the "best investments" for the state is to ensure that "every child has access to good health care," the editorial suggests that the state streamline the FAMIS application process and give families assistance in navigating the enrollment process. Given that Virginia in past years has had to "forfeit" at least $56 million in federal funds because of low enrollment, the editorial concludes that "the state has a long way to go" and "shouldn't lose any more time" in increasing the FAMIS rolls (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, 3/11).

Texas Program Deserves Adequate Support
Even though Texas' CHIP program is expected to "overrun" its current budget due to larger-than-anticipated enrollments, state lawmakers should recognize the "value of ... invest[ing]" in the program and not limit enrollment or benefits in an effort to control costs, a Ft. Worth Star-Telegram editorial says. More than 500,000 children have enrolled in the program, which may go over budget by as much as $20 million by August 2003. The editorial says that Gov. Rick Perry's (R) suggestion to shift into the CHIP program the $19 million in savings from altering the way the state purchases prescription drugs for beneficiaries is a "logical start" (Ft. Worth Star-Telegram, 3/10). Beginning next month, the state's Medicaid and CHIP programs will begin purchasing medications in bulk, which is expected to save the state about $19 million (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 2/26). However, the editorial says that lawmakers "should not assume that they can now cross CHIP off their list of concerns for the 2003 session," particularly because the savings from the bulk purchasing system and the CHIP program's budget deficit will not be known for certain until next year. The editorial concludes, "Even in a time of tight money, legislators ought to be willing to fund CHIP adequately, even if that means looking to general revenues or elsewhere" (Ft. Worth Star-Telegram, 3/10).