Missouri House Approves Bill Extending State’s CHIP Program Until 2007

The Missouri House on May 13 voted 104-32 to give final approval to a bill (HB 1926) that would extend the state's CHIP program, which is set to expire July 1, for an additional five years, the Kansas City Star reports (Wagar, Kansas City Star, 5/14). In March, the House gave preliminary approval to the bill. Currently, 77,000 children are enrolled in the state's CHIP program, known as MC+ for Kids, which covers children in families with annual incomes up to 300% of the federal poverty level (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 3/25). Before passing the bill this week, the House agreed to include a Senate amendment that would expand eligibility to children up to age 19 who are financially independent but have had no access to employer-sponsored health coverage for at least six months. In previous discussions of the program, critics had questioned its eligibility limits, but supporters have said most of the enrolled children are in families with lower incomes; 60,617 beneficiaries are in families with incomes between 100% and 185% of the poverty level, according to the Division of Family Services. Gov. Bob Holden (D), who has made reauthorizing the program a priority, called the bill's passage "a major victory for our kids" (Kansas City Star, 5/14).