Sanctions Over Children’s Health Insurance?
The AP reports that the new requirements unveiled by the Bush administration last year for states that utilize a state/federal health insurance program to cover children whose families earn to much (250% of federal poverty level) to qualify for the low-income health program is losing steam.
The Proposed Changes included:
1. Children must be uninsured for a year or more and
2. At least 95% of poor children (eligible for Medicaid or SCHIP) were already enrolled in said programs before the state intended to cover the children of higher-income families in question.
The directive is was aimed at 15 states who provided health insurance coverage to children of families with incomes above 250% of federal poverty level.
States were initially directed to make changed by Monday August 18 or face stiff financial penalties, although it was also made clear that there was no immediate threat of states losing their federal funding.
Several states including California, New Jersey and New York filed lawsuits attempting to void the requirements, while others scaled back their plans to expand SCHIP beyond 250% of federal poverty level.
At this point in time the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services is not taking compliance action.
More information about Children’s Health Insurance Programs
