Utah House Passes Bill That Lifts Restrictions On CHIP, Medicaid Coverage For Documented Immigrant Children

Main Category: Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP
Also Included In: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance;  Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 13 Mar 2009 - 5:00 PST

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The Utah state House on Monday voted 50-23 to approve a bill (HB 171) that would remove the five-year residency requirement for children of documented immigrants to receive coverage under the state's Medicaid or CHIP programs, the Salt Lake Tribune reports. The bill passed a preliminary vote in the state Senate, but it must pass a second vote in the chamber before it advances to Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. (R) for his signature, the Tribune reports (McFarland, Salt Lake Tribune, 3/10).

President Obama last month signed into law a reauthorization and expansion of the program funded by an increase in the federal tobacco tax. The reauthorization includes a provision that allows states to eliminate a federal five-year waiting period for coverage of documented immigrant children. The bill removes similar language from state eligibility requirements (Kaiser Health Disparities Report, 2/26).

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