1. Hawaii: New FMAP The Federal Medical Assistance Percentages for our Medicaid programs from 1 October 2007 to 30 September 2008 decreased slightly: * Regular Medicaid: 58.81% * Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP): 71.17% 2. $83,000 CHIP Family Doesn't Exist The truth about who's eligible for State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage has become blurred in the debate to reauthorize CHIP, with the mythical $83,000 CHIP family making headlines. The misleading contention that CHIP covers children at this income level leaves the false impression that CHIP is a program that no longer focuses on lower income children or that CHIP reauthorization would turn it into such a program. The Georgetown University Center for Children and Families has released a fact sheet with new data on the income levels of the children participating in CHIP. Here are the facts about who's enrolled in CHIP: * There currently are no children enrolled in CHIP with family income of 400 percent of the federal poverty level ($83,000 for a family of four). * More than nine in 10 children (91.3 percent) enrolled in CHIP are from families with incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty level ($41,300 for a family of four). * More than 99.95 percent of the children in CHIP have income below or at 300 percent of the federal poverty level ($62,000 for a family of four). The CHIP legislation, Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (CHIPRA), approved by Congress but vetoed by the president would provide health coverage to nearly 4 million uninsured children--reducing the number of uninsured children by nearly a half. The vast majority (84 percent) of these children are from the lowest-income families who already are eligible for CHIP or Medicaid. The bill would not increase states’ flexibility to expand coverage to families with more moderate incomes; in fact, CHIPRA would constrain that flexibility. 3. New York: Expanding CHIP Is Right Thing, But Also Makes Economic Sense The single most compelling reason to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program is also the simplest: It's the right thing to do. In America, every child should have a fair shot at growing up to be an astronaut, a ballet dancer, a firefighter or president of the United States. No child should be forced to give up these dreams because of health problems that could be managed or even prevented with proper care. In America, every child should have health care. Prevention makes good economic sense. In today's twisted health care marketplace, it's about the only thing that does. Fewer and fewer employers are offering health coverage to their workers, and increasingly, those who are offered health insurance at work can't afford to buy it. A recent study by the Kaiser Family Foundation shows that health insurance premiums rose at nearly double the rise in either workers' wages or inflation. Millions of working families live one broken bone or asthma attack away from financial ruin or worse, and our nation's economy is paying the price. The health status of those enrolled in the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) has improved. Children with coverage are having fewer asthma attacks and therefore winding up in the expensive emergency room a lot less. Studies have even shown that children enrolled in CHIP saw a notable improvement in school performance and attendance. For education to make a difference in the life of a child, that child has to be healthy enough to show up for school and pay attention. An educated work force is vital to today's information economy. The economic list goes on. Medical costs are responsible for as many as half the approximately 1 million personal bankruptcies filed each year. Businesses lose productivity when working parents have to stay home with sick kids. Today's unhealthy child is, without intervention, tomorrow's chronic disease patient. This vote was a clear statement of values: Either you believe that health care for children is a priority, or you believe that children's health is not as important as other spending needs. [John Sweeney and James Bertolone, Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, 11/13/07] 4. Florida: Grocery Chain Promotes CHIP A major Florida grocery store chain is teaming up with the state in an effort to provide adequate health care for more children. Albertsons LLC is partnering with the Florida Covering Kids and Families Initiative to promote KidCare, the State Children's Health Insurance Program, according to a media release from the University of South Florida. The initiative is based at USF's Lawton and Rhea Chiles Center for Healthy Mothers and Babies. Albertsons has placed Florida KidCare advertisements in its prescription bags to create consumer awareness of Florida's low-cost or free health care coverage for children. It is also distributing Florida KidCare applications and brochures to each of its 93 Florida stores. Florida Covering Kids and Families, under contract with the Agency for Health Care Administration, is conducting an integrated, statewide outreach campaign for Florida KidCare in cooperation with Gov. Charlie Crist's office and the state agencies responsible for administrating the program. The Florida Covering Kids and Families Initiative is creating statewide business partnerships to reduce the number of uninsured children, according to the release. Albertsons is the latest company to join the initiative. Florida has the second highest number of uninsured children in the United States. Approximately 700,000 children in the state have no health insurance, while around 500,000 of these children may be eligible for Florida KidCare, according to the release. [Tampa Bay Business Journal, 10/30/07]