For Professionals
CMS Awards New CHIPRA Outreach and Enrollment Grants
On August 18, 2011, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced $40 million in grants for efforts to identify and enroll children eligible for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and help them enroll. Thirty-nine (39) two-year grants were awarded to State agencies, community health centers, school-based organizations and non-profit groups in 23 states. The grants are authorized under the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) of 2009.
Each grantee will focus efforts in one of the following areas:
1) Using technology to facilitate enrollment and renewal
2) Retaining eligible children in coverage
3) Engaging schools in outreach, enrollment and renewal activities
4) Reaching children who are most likely to experience gaps in coverage
5) Ensuring eligible teens are enrolled and stay covered
Continued Progress
A new report from the Urban Institute and The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found that the nation is making great progress enrolling eligible children in Medicaid and CHIP. Despite an increase in eligible children between 2008 and 2009, the total number of eligible but uninsured children declined from 4.7 million in 2008 to 4.3 million in 2009, in part due to outreach and enrollment efforts. Read the new report to learn more. You can also find the Medicaid/CHIP participation rate in your State.
The findings of this new study tell us that the kinds of activities inspired by the Connecting Kids to Coverage Challenge issued by Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in 2010 are working! Step up to the Challenge and be part of the progress we are making to ensure that all children get the health coverage and care they need. Check out our Outreach Video Library to learn about outreach activities going on in communities across the country.
Support for Back to School Enrollment
Back-to-School time is a great time to make the connection between keeping children healthy and helping them succeed in school. A joint letter released August 12th from Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Education Secretary Arne Duncan to the nation’s Governors urges them to encourage schools to "undertake children’s health coverage outreach and enrollment activities when classes begin this fall."
New Outreach Materials
In 2010, seven states participated in the Get Covered, Get in the Game initiative to work with school and youth sports programs to get eligible children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP. Often, kids can’t play if they don’t have health insurance. Check out the new strategy guide to learn more about successful strategies to get students health coverage so they will be protected both on and off the field.
More Outreach Ideas
Connecting Kids to Coverage: Ten Things Schools Can Do
Connecting Kids to Coverage: Ten Things Community Health Centers Can Do
Connecting Kids to Coverage: Ten Things Local Businesses Can Do
New CMS Medicaid/CHIP Survey
HHS Awards Cycle II grants (press release)
Cycle II Grants Summary
Letter from Secretary Sebelius and Secretary Duncan
Outreach Video Library
Urban Institute study
Medicaid/CHIP Participation Rates in Your State
Get Covered, Get in the Game Strategy Guide