Legislation Would Reverse Law Reducing Federal Funding Level for CHIP
Sens. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) on Aug. 1 announced legislation that would address "funding gaps" in the CHIP program and prevent 900,000 children from losing coverage during the next three years, when federal funding for the program gradually reduces, Reuters reports (Reuters, 8/1). The measure, cosponsored by Sens. John Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) and Lincoln Chafee (R-R.I.), was unveiled at the launch of Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's "Covering Kids" campaign for the new school year (Rovner, CongressDaily, 8/1). The bill would maintain 2001 federal funding levels for CHIP in fiscal years 2003 and 2004. As it stands now, federal funding of CHIP will drop by 26% over the next three years because of a provision in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. As a result, about 900,000 children would lose CHIP coverage between 2003 and 2006 (Rockefeller release, 8/1). The legislation also would extend a law that allows unspent CHIP funds to be reallocated to states instead of requiring states to return that money to the federal treasury, CongressDaily reports. Kennedy said it would be "intolerable" to not spend money on the program at a time when many children remain uninsured (CongressDaily, 8/1).
Eligible But Not Enrolled
The kick-off event also featured the release of an Urban Institute and Robert Wood Johnson study, which found that of the estimated 8.2 million uninsured children at the beginning of 2002, 4.7 million are eligible but not enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 8/1). Speaking at the event, HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson, said, "The coverage that exists is simply not being used and that has got to change." He added, along with RWJF officials, that this year's efforts will "more intensively" target minorities, who face cultural and language barriers to enrollment (CongressDaily, 8/1).
A HealthCast of the Covering Kids launch is available online. Also, NPR's "All Things Considered" on Aug. 1 included an interview with RWJF Senior Vice President Dr. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey. The full segment is available online in RealPlayer Audio.
