CHIPRA Implementation Series:
Exploring New Opportunities for Children's Coverage
The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) was created in 1997 to provide affordable health coverage to low-income children in working families who make too much money to be eligible for Medicaid but not enough to afford private coverage. The program currently covers more than 7 million children. In February 2009, after a protracted political fight, Congress enacted, and President Obama signed, legislation that renewed CHIP through the end of 2013 and expanded its scope. This series of issue briefs examines the new provisions that were included in the reauthorization and how they will affect implementation in the coming months.
Available Briefs
Expanding Coverage for Recent Immigrants: CHIPRA Gives States New Options examines the provision that lifts the "five year bar" for legally residing immigrant children and pregnant women. It discusses how states can take advantage of this new option to expand coverage—and why they should. (updated August 2010)
Covering Pregnant Women: CHIPRA Offers a New Option discusses the new option that states have to provide pregnant women with comprehensive health care during pregnancy and for a limited postpartum period, and a simple administrative way to do so. (July 2010)
Streamlining Citizenship Documentation: States Can Make Documenting Citizenship and Identity Easier discusses several important changes that the CHIP Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) made to the citizenship documentation requirement that make it less burdensome for consumers and states. (June 2010)
Improving Language Access: CHIPRA Provides Increased Funding for Language Services discusses the increased funding for language assistance services (interpretation and translation) and how states cover these services for Medicaid and CHIP enrollees who are limited English proficient, or LEP. (February 2010)
Dental and Mental Health: Benefit Improvements in CHIPRA describes the law's new benefit provisions, explains what states must do to comply with the law, and discusses the new options that states have to expand access to dental and mental health care for low-income children. (January 2010)
What's Next for CHIP-Funded Adult Coverage? examines how the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) changes coverage for parents and for adults without dependent children. (August 2009)
More Funding for CHIP, Different Rules: How Does CHIPRA Change CHIP Funding? summarizes the new federal financing rules for CHIP, as well as the improvements to the financing system that will help ensure that states have the funding they need to get more children covered. (June 2009)
The Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA): Addressing Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities examines four key provisions in the new law: investing in outreach, increasing access for legal immigrant children and pregnant women, increased funding for interpretation and translation services, and establishing new quality of care measures. It also includes action steps for advocates. (June 2009)
Covering More Children, Rewarding Success: State Performance Bonuses discusses the new system of performance bonuses created by the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA). These bonuses are designed to reward states for enrolling more uninsured low-income children in Medicaid. (April 2009) ¦ Table of Performance Bonus Benchmarks, by State (June 2009)
CHIPRA 101: Overview of the CHIP Reauthorization Legislation discusses the major provisions of the reauthorization, including those pertaining to new funding, changes in eligibility, getting more children enrolled, and improving children's health. (March 2009)
