1. Why Use an Electronic Application? An independent, business case analysis of California's Health-e-App pilot was conducted by a national health care consulting firm. The findings support the hypothesis that an automated, web-based application can improve the speed, data quality, and consumer satisfaction with the application process. The analysis, conducted by The Lewin Group and commissioned by the California HealthCare Foundation, gives Health-e-App high marks from program administrators, applicants, and Certified Application Assistants (CAAs) who help families apply for health insurance. It shows while there are still some areas needing improvement, Health-e-App makes applying for health insurance faster and easier. *Increased Speed: The time between application submission and eligibility determination decreased by 21 percent. *Improved Data Quality: Application errors were reduced by nearly 40 percent. Greater Consumer Satisfaction: 90% percent of applicants would rather apply online using Health-e-App; 95% of CAAs preferred using Health-e-App to the paper application. The study also found that real-time eligibility screening, online provider and plan selection, and confirmation of application receipt contributed to strong customer-satisfaction with the new, more streamlined application process. For more information, go to Health-e-App Resource Web Site. 2. Immigrant Adults Eligible After 5 Years in the USA Please spread the word! Previous terminology that was used ("immigrants who arrived after 22 August 1996 are not eligible for Medicaid") no longer applies because technically the welfare reform rule enacted in 08/96 is for immigrant adults who have been in the country less than five years. Therefore, starting 27 August 2001, there may be immigrant adults who have been in the USA more than 5 years and are eligible for QUEST or Medicaid Fee-for-Service but do not know it. Of course, kids are eligible anytime if they meet income and legal immigrant criteria. 3. Mathematica Reports on Continuity of Health Insurance for Kids The small proportion of children covered by Medicaid who experience disruptions in coverage tend to be the ones who need it the most, according to "Discontinuous Coverage in Medicaid and the Implications of 12-Month Continuous Coverage for Children." Simplifying procedures for maintaining coverage and facilitating continuous coverage in Medicaid and State CHIP could help eliminate disparities in health coverage and access. To download a PDF version of the report, go to http://www.mathematica-mpr.com/PDFs/redirect.asp?strsite=discontinuous.pdf 4. CHIP Covers 4.6 Million Children in 2001 About 4.6 million children who otherwise would not have access to health care were covered under the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) during fiscal year 2001--a 38 percent increase from the previous year, HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced today. "Working with governors, we've made tremendous progress in our efforts to reach millions of children with needed health coverage under CHIP," Secretary Thompson said. During fiscal year 2001, a total of 4.6 million children were enrolled in CHIP at some point, according to the latest figures from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. That compares with 3.3 million children in fiscal year 2000. In addition, more than 230,000 adults were enrolled in fiscal year 2001 under approved CHIP Section 1115 demonstration projects. HHS did not approve any such demonstrations until January 2001, so there were not any adults covered under the CHIP program in fiscal year 2000. The CHIP law appropriated $40 billion in federal funds over 10 years to improve children's access to health coverage. Since taking office, Secretary Thompson has worked to improve access to health care through innovative coverage programs in the CHIP and Medicaid programs. Since January 2001, HHS has approved more than 1,500 CHIP and Medicaid waivers and plan amendments that have expanded eligibility to about 1.8 million people and enhanced benefits for about 4.5 million people. In August 2001, HHS launched the Health Insurance Flexibility and Accountability Demonstration Initiative to make it simpler and easier for states to coordinate CHIP and Medicaid plans and to submit waiver requests and to have those requests promptly considered. Today's CHIP enrollment report, prepared by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), finds that the increase stems primarily from expansions of CHIP programs, program maturity, and streamlined enrollment procedures. "We have worked with states to improve outreach efforts and to make it simpler for families to enroll," said Tom Scully, CMS administrator. "As a result, we are now seeing more children with access to health care. Secretary Thompson and I will continue to do all we can to strengthen this program so states can cover more children in the future." Health insurance is now available for children whose family income is 200 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) or higher in 38 states and the District of Columbia. Prior to this legislation, only six states had Medicaid income eligibility levels at or above 200 percent of FPL and that was for infants only. States report that more than 75 percent of children enrolled in CHIP in 2001 were between the ages of 6 and 18. Medicaid generally covers younger children at higher income eligibility levels. Under the new Title XXI of the Social Security Act, states were given the option to set up a separate child health program, expand their existing Medicaid programs, or a combination of both. The report shows that the majority of children in the program--69 percent--were enrolled in states with combination programs. To further strengthen CHIP, President Bush's fiscal year 2003 budget would make available to states an estimated $3.2 billion in unused CHIP funds that otherwise would return to the federal treasury. The CHIP law originally required that funds be taken from states that did not use their full CHIP allotment during the previous three years. Extending the availability of expiring funds will enable all states to expand coverage to the uninsured.