Publications: Children's Health
A Nation in Need of Dental Care is a fact sheet about how limited access to dental care in the United States has an effect on overall health, productivity, and financial security. 4 pp. (May 2012)
Key Issues in the Final and Interim Final Rules on Establishing Exchanges and Expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act 4 pp. (April 2012)
Getting Covered: Finding Health Insurance When You Lose Your Job is designed to help consumers who've lost their health coverage sort through possible options for new coverage, including COBRA, Medicaid, CHIP, other federal and state programs, and the individual market. 12 pp. (Updated February 2012)
Simplifying Enrollment and Eligibility with Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) explains the benefits of aligning income calculation rules in Medicaid, CHIP, premium tax credits, and Basic Health programs (where applicable) through MAGI. 6 pp. (October 2011)
Presumptive Eligibility: A Step toward Streamlined Enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP explores how the Affordable Care Act expands presumptive eligibility to help states streamline enrollment and discusses the important role that presumptive eligibility can play in helping low-income people get access to care during and after the implementation of the new law. 12 pp. (September 2011)
The Basic Health Option: Will It Work for Low-Income Consumers? provides a framework for advocates to think about whether this option, created by the health care law, will work for their state. It covers program basics, discusses the problems it might address, and raises key issues that can affect the direction such a program might take. 12 pp. (July 2011)
Applying for Health Coverage Online: The Affordable Care Act Helps Americans Enroll discusses provisions in the Affordable Care Act that call for states to have one streamlined online application that allows consumers to apply for Medicaid, CHIP, and premiums credits available to purchase health coverage in state exchanges. The brief also examines where states are now in the implementation of an online application process. 20 pp. (March 2011)
States Are Benefitting from Provisions of the Affordable Care Act lists the number of people in each state who are already benefiting from each of five provisions. The provisions include measures that are helping small businesses provide coverage to their workers, helping seniors get free preventive care, and protecting children with pre-existing conditions. 3 pp. | Table (March 2011)
Express Lane Eligibility: Early State Experiences and Lessons for Health Reform reviews the early experiences of four states under the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) and how those experiences can be instructive as states move to implement health reform. The states are Alabama, Iowa, Louisiana, and New Jersey. 19 pp. (January 2011)
Enrollment Policy Provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act outlines the provisions that apply to Medicaid, CHIP, and the exchanges, and those that encourage coordination of enrollment procedures among the three programs. 6 pp. (Updated December 2010)
Express Lane Eligibility: What Is It, and How Does It Work? explains how express lane eligibility programs work in light of the 2009 Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA), and describes options for states in designing their programs. 7pp. (October 2010)
How States Are Making Sure Coverage Is Available to Children notes that, under health reform, insurers are required to accept children regardless of any pre-existing conditions in all group plans and in newly sold individual plans, and it examines what several states are doing to make sure that child-only policies are still available. 7 pp. (October 2010)
Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act: Reframing the Debate addresses concerns about the effect of the Medicaid expansion on state budgets and outlines the many benefits that the Medicaid expansion will bring to states and the uninsured. 4 pp. (October 2010)
Implementing Health Insurance Exchanges: A Guide to State Activities and Choices describes the requirements in the Affordable Care Act that exchanges must meet and outlines key questions that states and consumer advocates will need to consider as the exchanges are designed. 30 pp. (October 2010)
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. 11 pp. (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. 11 pp. (July 2010)
How Health Reform Helps Low-Income Children discusses how health reform sustains Medicaid and CHIP funding, enhances enrollment in the programs, further expands children's coverage, and increases their health care benefits. 4 pp. (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. 11 pp. (June 2010)
The First 90 Days: A State Advocate's To-Do List provides an overview of the provisions to be implemented in the first 90 days, including coverage for uninsured people with pre-existing conditions, grants for consumer assistance offices, and Medicaid and CHIP maintenance of effort requirements. | pdf version 8 pp. (April 2010)
A Summary of the New Health Reform Law describes the major changes in health coverage that health reform will bring, including Medicaid and CHIP coverage, the affordability provisions, the exchanges, individual and employer responsibility requirements, improvements in private market coverage, and changes to Medicare and long-term services. 21 pp. (April 2010)
Maintenance of Effort Requirements under Health Reform discusses how health reform changes the maintenance of effort requirements that are already in place for state Medicaid and CHIP programs. 2 pp. (March 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. 7 pp. (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. 8 pp. Print copies $5.00 (January 2010)
Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Soften the Blow during Tough Economic Times discusses how these programs have served as an effective health care safety net for many newly uninsured families, particularly for children. 3 pp. Print copies free (October 2009)
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. 11 pp. Print copies $5.00 (August 2009)
Better Coverage for Children discusses how the health reform legislation that is before Congress will help cover uninsured children, and their families, by making insurance more available and affordable and by expanding Medicaid. 4 pp. Print copies free (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. 12 pp. Print copies $5.00 (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. 12 pp. Print copies $5.00 (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. 12 pp. Print copies $2.00 (April 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. Print copies $2.00 (March 2009)
Getting Covered: Finding Health Insurance When You Lose Your Job is designed to help consumers who've lost their health coverage sort through possible options for new coverage, including COBRA, Medicaid, CHIP, other federal and state programs, and the individual market. 11 pp. Print copies $2.00 (February 2009)
Critical Care: The Economic Recovery Package and Medicaid examines the latest state reports of newly enacted or proposed cuts to Medicaid and CHIP. It also provides state-level estimates of the economic impact of the proposed temporary increase in federal Medicaid funding in the House American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. 14 pp. Print copies $5.00 (January 2009)
Yes We Can...Cover More than 4 Million Uninsured Children shows how many children would gain coverage in all 50 states and the District of Columbia under the CHIP reauthorization bill passed by the House (H.R. 2). 5 pp. Print copies $5.00 (January 2009)
A Painful Recession: States Cut Health Care Safety Net Programs documents one impact of the current recession by examining state cuts in Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The report also shows, on a state-by-state basis, how temporarily increasing federal funding for Medicaid can stimulate state economies, increasing business activity, jobs, and wages. 25pp. Print copies $10 (December 2008)
Left Behind: America's Uninsured Children: The Bush Administration's opposition to expanding CHIP, as well as the economic crisis, have put new pressure on states to deal with the growing need for health coverage. 20 pp. Print copies $10 (October-November 2008) State Reports 10 pp. Print copies $2.
Still Too Many Uninsured Children examines the new Census Bureau data about children's health coverage in 2007. It describes the importance of Medicaid and CHIP for children's health coverage, how the President's harmful policies are hurting children, and what Congress and the next President should do to help. 2 pp. Free (August 2008)
Detour on the Road to Kids Coverage: Administration Creates Roadblocks, So States Seek Alternative Routes examines the current state of children's coverage and finds that, while the Administration's new directive has created roadblocks that stymied state efforts to expand eligibility, it has not stopped states from making progress. 10 pp. Print copies $2. (July 2008)
Five Good Reasons to Increase Health Coverage for Parents discusses the reasons why states should strengthen the health and economic security of families by expanding health coverage for parents. 4 pp. Free (July 2008)
Screening for Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Eligibility is intended as a reference to help determine whether someone may qualify for Medicaid or SCHIP coverage. Each question includes federal and state-specific information. (Families USA, originally published in 2004, updated June 2008 - online only)
9 Million Children and Counting: The Administration's Attack on Health Coverage for America's Children examines how the President's two vetoes of CHIP reauthorization legislation, combined with the August 2007 CMS directive, will jeopardize health care for thousands of children. And the President's proposed fiscal year 2009 budget would hurt children's coverage even more. 8 pp. Print copies $2 (February 2008)
The Medicaid Citizenship Documentation Requirement One Year Later examines the citizenship documentation law, including changes that have been made since its implementation in July 2006, as well as its impact on states, Medicaid applicants, and Medicaid enrollees. The issue brief also discusses potential improvements to the requirement contained in the CHIP reauthorization legislation. 8 pp. Print copies $2 (September 2007)
Kids Waiting for Coverage: How Many Are in Your State? provides national and state-by-state estimates of the numbers of uninsured children who could be covered under the House and Senate CHIP reauthorization bills, as well as a discussion of how successful CHIP has been since its enactment in 1997. 16 pp. Print copies $2 (September 2007)
SCHIP and Children's Health Coverage: Leveling the Playing Field for Minority Children examines the important role that SCHIP plays in reducing disparities in access to care, as well as how the SCHIP reauthorization process can be used to further this effort. 4 pp. Free (December 2006, updated June 2007)
SCHIP 101: What Is the State Children's Health Insurance Program, and How Does It Work? explains the basics about SCHIP, including who qualifies for SCHIP, how SCHIP is financed, and whether eligible children are getting enrolled. 4 pp. Free (November 2006, updated June 2007)
SCHIP and Children's Health Coverage: Fitting the Pieces Together examines where children, including low-income children, get their health coverage, as well as how SCHIP and Medicaid have reduced the number of uninsured children. 4 pp. Free (November 2006, updated June 2007)
CHIP Reauthorization: What's at Stake for the States? New state-specific reports show how much money states could gain from SCHIP reauthorization and what that money would mean to the state's economy. 8 pp. Print copies $2 (May 2007)
When One Size Doesn't Fit All: the Importance of State Flexibility in SCHIP Eligibility looks at how different costs of living in different parts of the country affect how far a dollar goes, and how this relates to state choices to set SCHIP eligibility limits higher than twice the federal poverty level. 2 pp. Free (April 2007)
Screening for Medicaid and State Children's Health Program (SCHIP) Eligibility is intended as a reference to help determine whether someone may qualify for Medicaid or SCHIP coverage. Each question includes federal and state-specific information. (Families USA, originally published in 2004, updated 2007)
Health Opportunity Accounts: What Are They, and Why Should State Advocates Care? explains what health opportunity accounts (HOAs) are, how they operate, and who can and cannot participate in them. It also discusses why advocates should be concerned about this sweeping provision of the DRA. 9 pp. Print copies $2 (March 2007)
The Great Divide: When Kids Get Sick, Insurance Matters presents ground-breaking data that show that, when kids get sick or hurt, insurance matters. Children without health insurance receive less and inferior care, and, for those uninsured children with severe illnesses or injuries, this can lead to most severe and tragic consequences. 21 pp. Print copies $15 (February 2007)
Illinois' All Kids: A Step in the Right Direction discusses this new children's coverage program, including eligibility, benefits, cost-sharing, and how the program is financed. 8 pp. Print copies $2 (October 2006)
No Shelter from the Storm: America's Uninsured Children. This report takes a closer look at uninsured children—who they are and what kinds of services they miss out on as a result of being uninsured. Written by Families USA for the Campaign for Children's Health Care. 32 pp. Print copies $15 (September 2006)
New Medicaid Regulations Discriminate against U.S.-Born Children of Immigrants focuses on a specific provision of the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA), which has established regulations for citizenship documentation requirements for Medicaid. This provision creates an arbitrary and harmful distinction between children who are born in the U.S. to immigrants versus those born to citizens. 4 pp. Free (August 2006)
President Bush's Fiscal Year 2007 Budget: Analysis of Key Health Care Provisions Includes discussion and commentary on Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Medicaid, and Medicare. 13 pp. Print copies $2 (February 22, 2006)
Good for Kids, Good for the Economy: Health Coverage for All Kids in Illinois
A discussion of how Governor Blagojevich's All Kids proposal would expand health coverage for the state's children while helping the economy, bringing federal dollars to the state and generating significant economic activity. 8 pp. Free. (October 2005)
$1.1 Billion in Children's Health Insurance Funds to Be Returned to U.S. Treasury Funds that Could Provide a Year of Health Coverage for Almost 750,000 Uninsured Children Will Be Withdrawn from the States on September 30. 8 pp. Free (September 2004)
The Immigrant Children's Health Improvement Act (ICHIA): A Good Investment in America's Future | en Español 2 pp. Free (December 11, 2003)
Congress Passes the "SCHIP Fix"! 2 pp. Free | Fact Sheet | Table of State-by-State Estimates (August 7, 2003)
Immigrant Provisions of the Senate Prescription Drug Bill: A Good Investment in America's Future discusses the provisions of the Medicare prescription drug bill, which would give states the option of offering Medicaid and SCHIP coverage to children and pregnant women who are legal U.S. residents. (July 14, 2003)
Share of Medicaid and SCHIP Funding Paid by the Federal Government, State by State (Rev. May 29, 2003 to reflect changes in tax bill) 2 pp. Free. By Dollars | By Percents
What a Temporary Increase in Federal Assistance Will Mean for Your State, 2003-2004 4 pp. Free (Revised May 16, 2003)
Bush Administration's Fiscal Year 2004 Budget: Analysis of Key Health Care Provisions
4 pp. Free. (February 7, 2003)
Children Losing Health Coverage
A Special Report. The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) has made rapid progress in reducing the number of children without health coverage. Now, however, a combination of factors is likely to reduce program enrollment and increase the number of uninsured children. This report discusses the three factors likely to lead to a drop in SCHIP enrollment, including the "SCHIP funding dip." 15 pp. $5.00 (September 2002)
Promising Ideas in Children's Health Insurance: Simplifying Eligibility Reviews
This is the third in a series of issue briefs about innovative ways to offer affordable health care to more children. This brief focuses on ways to keep children--and their parents--enrolled in Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). 12 pp. $2.00. (May 2001)
Presumptive Eligibility for Children in Medicaid and the State Children's Health Program (CHIP)
2 pp. Free. (May 2001)
Five Good Reasons for States to Expand Family Coverage
This fact sheet outlines reasons to expand the Medicaid and CHIP programs to include working parents and adults. (April, 2001)
The Federal Budget: Funds for Uninsured Working Families
A Health Policy Memo. 2 pp. Free. (February 2001)
Immigrants' Eligibility for Medicaid and CHIP
4 pp. Free. (February 2001)
Promising Ideas in Children's Health Insurance: Presumptive Eligibility for Children
An issue brief about ways that states can empower health care providers and certain community-based organizations to enroll children in Medicaid right away, while their applications are being processed. 15 pp. $2.00. (May 2000)
One Step Forward, One Step Back: Children's Health Coverage after CHIP and Welfare Reform
A look at children's enrollment in Medicaid and the new children's health insurance program in the 12 states with the largest number of uninsured children (AZ, CA, FL, GA, IL, LA, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, and TX) from 1996 to 1999. Figures show that, while large numbers of children have lost Medicaid coverage in the wake of welfare reform, the new CHIP program is starting to reach children who were previously ineligible for public coverage. 45 pp. $15.00. (October 1999)
Promising Ideas in Children's Health Insurance: Coordination with School Lunch Programs
A 12-page issue brief about ways that school lunch programs can facilitate enrollment of eligible children in the new Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and in Medicaid. Examples from Colorado, Illinois, and Washington are provided. 12 pp. $2.00. (May 1999)
Deep in the Heart of Texas: Uninsured Children in the Lone Star State
A report on uninsured children in Texas: how many are uninsured; who they are; and what can be done to help them. 30-pp. $5.00. (February 1999)
Answering the Opposition to Children's Health Insurance,
8 pp. Free. (October 1998)
Family Coverage Options under CHIP, the State Children's Health Insurance Program,
16 pp. Free. (August 1998)
D.C. Children Don't Receive Complete Health Screens Required by Law,
Issue Brief. 4 pp. Free. Print only. (July 1998)
State Children's Health Insurance Program: Resources for Advocates
A large notebook filled with materials prepared by Families USA and other organizations providing advocates with one source for information on the State Children's Health Insurance Program. Covers such topics: State Data, Benefits, Outreach/Enrollment, Crowd Out, Cost·Sharing, Quality/Access, Managed Care, Children w/Special Health Care Needs, and Key Contacts on Children's Health Insurance. $30.00. (June 1998)
Outreach Strategies in the State Children's Health Insurance Program
24 pp. Free. (June 1998)
Good Ideas from State Plans: State Child Health Plan Provisions that Can Benefit Children
Co·authored by Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Children's Defense Fund, Families USA, Family Voices, National Association of Child Advocates, and National Association of Children's Hospitals. 19 pp. Free. (April 27, 1998)
Expanding Medicaid is the Best Option
Children's Health Campaign Fact Sheet. 2 pp. Free. (February 1998)
Priorities for Expanding Medicaid,
Children's Health Campaign Fact Sheet. 2 pp. Free. (February 1998)
If a State Chooses a Separate State Insurance Program,
Children's Health Campaign Fact Sheet.2 pp. Free. (February 1998)
What Is Crowd Out and Why Should Children's Health Advocates Care?
9 pp. Free. (January 15, 1998)
A Preliminary Guide to Expansion of Children's Health Coverage
This 52-page guide provides a summary of the new children's health initiative enacted as part of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 and discusses key decisions facing the states as they implement the new program. Lays out the pros and cons of Medicaid and of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Includes an index to the new law and a chart of state funding allocations. $15.00. Print only.(September 1997)
Unmet Needs: The Large Differences in Health Care Between Uninsured and Insured Children
This special report, based on interview data gathered by the National Center for Health Statistics, shows that children who are uninsured for a year or more make half as many visits to the doctor and have less than half as many inpatient days in the hospital as insured children. 8 pp. $5.00. (June 1997)
One Out of Three: Kids Without Health Insurance, 1995-1996
This report looks at the number of children who went without health insurance for one month or more, at how long they were uninsured, and at other characteristics, such as race and family income. 41 pp. $15.00. (March 1997)
Hurting Real People: The Human Impact of Medicaid Cuts
This report focuses on ten key features of the Medicaid program. Describes potential problems families will face if policymakers cut federal Medicaid funds and eliminate federal consumer protections. 36 pp. $10.00. Print only. (June 1995)
People Just Like You
A 19-minute video about the need for health care reform. $5.00. (January 1993)
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