SCHIP Enrollment Increases In Florida, Tennessee

Main Category: Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP
Article Date: 28 Nov 2007 - 5:00 PDT

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Florida and Tennessee recently reported enrollment increases in their SCHIP programs. Summaries of news coverage of the developments appear below.

• Florida: Enrollment in KidCare, the state's version of SCHIP, has increased by nearly 16,000 children, or by about 1.2%, since the state expanded outreach efforts, streamlined bureaucracy and increased funding for the program in July, the Florida Times-Union reports. State CFO Alex Sink (D) said, "It's more than we thought, but we were hopeful," adding, "It shows the demand and need really is out there. And if we can get the enrollment up closer to the funding limit ... it would prove to the Legislature how much demand there is." Legislators allocated funding for 36,000 new KidCare beneficiaries, and more than 24,000 of those slots remain open. Additional slots could open in the future because unfilled slots are rolled over to the next month's allotment. State officials are continuing outreach efforts by encouraging physicians and insurers to provide patients with information. KidCare consultant Rose Naff said the state's recent efforts have improved the program and made it more accessible to beneficiaries and their families. She said, "Families have told us that there were so many changes in recent years that some didn't even know if the program was open or not," adding, "Now there's newer, easier ways to get on the rolls. Families are using the services. And they're healthier for it" (Rushing, Florida Times-Union, 11/26).
  
  
• Tennessee: More than 16,000 children have enrolled in CoverKids, the state's version of SCHIP, since the program's launch on March 26, the AP/Memphis Commercial Appeal reports. Dean Flener -- a spokesperson for Cover Tennessee, the state's program for the uninsured -- said the state is on track to reach its goal of covering 40,000 children by fiscal year 2009. Legislators have allocated $63 million to pay for the program's first three years. The state also is preparing to offer coverage for more small-business employees. The workers' program, which currently covers adults who work at businesses with no more than 25 employees, will expand to cover uninsured adults at businesses with up to 50 employees. In addition, employees who work for businesses that do not provide coverage will be eligible for the program (Johnson, AP/Memphis Commercial Appeal, 11/26).

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