Texas SCHIP Enrollment Declines For Fourth Consecutive Month

June 14, 2007 – 6:21 pm | posted in Health Insurance, Pediatrics

Texas SCHIP enrollment declined by 5,000 beneficiaries in June — the fourth consecutive month there has been a decrease in enrollment, state health officials said on Friday, the AP/Houston Chronicle reports. Roughly 300,800 children in the state currently are receiving benefits through the program, about 25,000 fewer participants than in December 2006, according to the AP/Chronicle. Ted Hughes, a spokesperson for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, attributed June’s decline to an agency decision to end an amnesty program for families with incomplete applications (AP/Houston Chronicle, 6/8).

In March, state Rep. John Davis (R) introduced a bill (HB 2049) that would ease SCHIP enrollment restrictions imposed by lawmakers in 2003. Those restrictions shortened the SCHIP enrollment period from one year to six months and included a stricter asset test for enrollment, among other changes (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 3/2).

Lawmakers maintain that an additional 100,000 children could be added to SCHIP if the legislation is approved. Gov. Rick Perry (R) has until June 17 to sign or veto the bill but has not yet indicated what his actions will be, the AP/Chronicle reports. If approved, the bill could take effect by Sept. 1 (AP/Houston Chronicle, 6/8).

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