Texas SCHIP Enrollment Hits Highest Level in Three Years

SCHIP enrollment in Texas increased by 24,000 children, or 7%, this month, bringing total enrollment to 382,000 -- the highest level in three years, the Dallas Morning News reports. State Health and Human Services Commission spokesperson Stephanie Goodman said the increase was expected because of a decision last year to extend SCHIP coverage from six months to 12 months before a family must submit pay stubs and other information to renew children's enrollment in the program.

Although SCHIP enrollment increased, the number of children enrolled in the state's Medicaid program decreased by nearly 13,000 since February to 1.8 million. Anne Dunkelberg of the Center for Public Policy Priorities attributed the decline to continuing problems with the new eligibility system, which has been partially privatized. She said the state is not meeting federal rules for timely handling of applications, many of which go unprocessed for months.

Goodman attributed the application delays to the lack of state workers. The commission said last month it would give most of the state workers who process claims a 5% raise on June 1 in an attempt to discourage turnover (Garrett, Dallas Morning News, 3/11).