Most states have managed to safeguard and, in some cases, expand healthcare coverage for children and parents in their Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance (SCHIP) Programs in 2009, according to a new survey.
The ninth annual survey released this week by the Kaiser Family Foundation's Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured found that states attributed their financial solvency to funding they received from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and legislation to refinance the SCHIP program.
State health officials said the 2009 gains could serve as a base for covering millions more people under health reform. Despite the gains, however, the programs are threatened by the impending end of key federal assistance at the end of 2010 and before healthcare reform coverage would begin.
The 50-state survey of eligibility rules, enrollment and renewal procedures and cost-sharing practices in Medicaid and SCHIP for children and parents found that, overall, most states in 2009 continued to expand and simplify their Medicaid and SCHIP programs, the main vehicles for providing coverage to low-income children and families, even as they faced the bleakest economic picture in years and severe budget pressures.
According to the study, 15 states reported they had to scale back their SCHIP programs during 2009.
According to Diane Rowland, executive vice president of the Kaiser Foundation and executive director of the foundation's commission on Medicaid and the uninsured, state revenues "are still mired in a severe slump," with more cutbacks likely if Congress doesn't act.
The survey showed that 47 states cover children in families with an annual income at or higher than 200 percent of the federal poverty level ($36,620 for a family of three), with 24 states covering children in families with incomes at or greater than 250 percent of poverty ($45,775 for a family of three).
Parent eligibility levels continue to lag far behind, and the disparity between children and parents is growing, the study found.
Currently, the median income eligibility limit for children is 235 percent of the federal poverty level ($43,029 for a family of three) compared to the median for a working parent at 64 percent of the federal poverty level ($11,718 for a family of three).
Twenty-six states reported they increased coverage for low income children, parents and pregnant women, either by expanding eligibility, simplifying enrollment procedures or reducing financial barriers.