Survey Indicates 17 States Increased Access To Health Coverage In 2006, While Several Reported A Decline In Children Enrolled In Medicaid

January 13, 2007 – 9:42 pm | posted in Health Insurance, Medicare, Pediatrics

Seventeen states in 2006 increased access to health coverage, but new federal proof-of-citizenship rules might be leading to a decline in children’s Medicaid enrollment in some states, according to a survey released Tuesday by the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, CQ HealthBeat reports (Carey, CQ HealthBeat, 1/9). The survey is the sixth in an annual series that examines policy and funding changes that impact enrollment in Medicaid and SCHIP programs in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. (Kaiser Family Foundation release, 1/9). The survey found that in 2006 — for the first time in four years — no state cut eligibility for Medicaid or SCHIP, and one-third of the states increased access to health coverage (CongressDaily, 1/9). However, according to Donna Cohen Ross, a survey author and outreach director at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a growing number of states are reporting declines in enrollment and a backlog of applications since the proof-of-citizenship law was implemented on July 1, 2006 (CQ HealthBeat, 1/9). The law is a response to concerns about undocumented immigrants obtaining access to government-sponsored health coverage, according to AP/Yahoo! News (Freking, AP/Yahoo! News, 1/9). The survey indicates that Iowa, Louisiana, New Hampshire, Virginia and Wisconsin are some of the states reporting enrollment declines and backlogs since the law took effect (Kaiser Family Foundation release, 1/9). Officials in states with declining enrollment and processing backlogs contend that the law is preventing U.S. citizens and certain legal immigrants from obtaining benefits, rather than undocumented immigrants (Freking, AP/Yahoo! News, 1/9). The survey concludes, “This new federal requirement restricts state flexibility to establish simple and efficient procedures and appears to be compromising efforts to cover eligible individuals” (CQ HealthBeat, 1/9). The survey also profiles Illinois’ effort to provide universal health care for children, Utah’s SCHIP enrollment freeze and new enrollment procedures in Connecticut. In addition, the survey found that Medicaid eligibility remains more restrictive for adults than for children (Kaiser Family Foundation release, 1/9). Reaction
Anita Smith of the Iowa Department of Human Services said, “There is no evidence that the decline is due to undocumented aliens leaving the program.” She added, “Rather, we believe that these new requirements are keeping otherwise eligible citizens from receiving Medicaid because they cannot provide the documents required to prove their citizenship or identity” (Freking, AP/Yahoo! News, 1/9). Cindi Jones, chief deputy director of the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services, said, “If there are hurdles in their way, many families give up.” CMS spokesperson Jeff Nelligan said, “We believe we have given the states the tools they need to both implement the law and provide sufficient flexibility to assist individuals in establishing their citizenship. We continue to monitor state implementation and are not aware of any data that shows there are significant barriers to enrollment.” He added that states should report any problems to CMS (CQ HealthBeat, 1/9).