The SCHIP (State Children's Health Insurance Program) amendment legislation, a much discussed topic of 2008 and one of the first health care legislation measures introduced in 2009, has now become law.

President Obama signed the bill into Public Law 111-3 on February 4. The legislative amendments to the original SCHIP laws will become effective on April 1, 2009. The House Bill had passed 289 to 139, and in the Senate 66-32. The federal program provides matching funds for state health insurance programs to cover uninsured children whose families are low income but still too high in income for Medicaid qualification.

President Obama, during the signing of the law, stated, "We fulfill one of the highest responsibilities that we have: to ensure the health and well-being of our nation's children." The President also noted, "But, as I think everybody here will agree, this is only the first step. The way I see it, providing coverage to 11 million children through CHIP is a down payment on my commitment to cover every single American."

The SCHIP laws have been expanded and some enrollment restrictions in the older legislation were removed. Some highlights of the new amendments include:

1. The original March 31, 2009, termination date of the authority for a state to use certain funds to pay for medical assistance to individuals under age 19 whose family income exceeds 150% of the poverty line has been repealed, making the state authority now permanent.

2. Focus on pregnant women and low income children: States have the option to cover targeted low-income pregnant women under CHIP through a state plan amendment if certain conditions are met, including that the state has established an income eligibility level of at least 185% of the federal poverty line for pregnant women under Medicaid. The minimum income eligibility level for children under age 19 is set at 200% of the poverty line (applicable to a family of the size involved). The law provides for automatic enrollment for children born to women receiving pregnancy-related assistance.

3. Outreach and enrollment: the law amends SSA title XXI to direct the Secretary to award grants during FY2009-FY2013 for outreach and enrollment efforts to increase the enrollment and participation of eligible children under CHIP and Medicaid, particularly Native American beneficiaries.

4. Reducing barriers to enrollment: States are given the option, as an alternative to the current documentation requirement, to verify a declaration of U.S. citizenship or nationality for purposes of Medicaid or CHIP eligibility through verification of a name and Social Security number with the Commissioner of Social Security.

5. Reducing Barriers to Providing Premium Assistance: States have the option to provide a premium assistance subsidy for qualified employer-sponsored coverage to all targeted low-income children eligible for CHIP who have access to such coverage, if the child (or the child's parent) voluntarily elects to receive such a subsidy. Allows employers to opt-out of being paid the subsidy directly, in which event the state shall pay the employee.

6. Improving Access to Benefits: Child health assistance provided to a targeted low-income child must include coverage of dental services necessary to prevent disease and promote oral health, restore oral structures to health and function, and treat emergency conditions.


Sources: Library of Congress, White House.
Link: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:HR00002:@@@L&summ2=m&

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