1. HHS Publishes Interim Final Rule for CHIP On 25 June 2001, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published an interim final rule on the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Among the critical changes that could have negative consequences for Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and other immigrants is the requirement for states to report data on primary language eliminated. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published an interim final rule on the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This interim final rule revises regulations that were published in January 2001 and were later delayed. Among the critical revisions is the elimination of the requirement for states to collect and provide data on the primary language spoken by CHIP enrollees. Data on primary language is essential for addressing barriers to care, targeting outreach strategies, and ensuring equal access to services for all children. Without this information, the federal government will be unable to measure and work towards the elimination of racial and ethnic disparities in health. Overall, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are far more likely to be uninsured than whites (21% vs. 14%). Rates of uninsured for certain AAPI subgroups are even higher, with Korean Americans having the highest rate of any racial or ethnic group (34%). In addition to economic barriers to health care coverage, high rates of limited English proficiency may also compound difficulties in accessing care. In 1990, 24.2% of AAPIs lived in linguistically isolated households in which no person aged 14 or older spoke English very well, compared to only 5.1% of non-AAPIs. To view the new regulations published in the Federal Register, visit http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/a010625c.html. See State Children's Health Insurance Program under Health Care Financing Administration. 2. Replay of Child Health Conference Call on Retention The Children's Defense Fund and Families USA are sponsored another Child Health Conference call on Wednesday 11 July 2001. The call focused on retention--keeping children enrolled in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Rachel Klein from Families USA provided a national perspective, with the focus on what states can do to simplify the renewal process. There are also examples from what some states are doing to make this process more family-friendly. 3. Hawaii May Get Help in Helping Micronesians The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee has approved giving $5 million to the U.S. Office of Insular Affairs to offset Hawaii's expenses arising from the compacts of free association with the Federal States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau. The funds are included in the fiscal 2002 Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, which now goes to the full Senate for a vote. Susan Chandler, director of the state Department of Human Services, said, "Any help that we can get from the federal government is greatly appreciated." In 1996 the federal government excluded Micronesians from the state Medicaid and Med-QUEST programs, yet, Chandler said, there are significant health costs to the state for Micronesians in Hawaii who have serious conditions. Because Micronesians in Hawaii are under a special classification, the state has to fully pay for their medical expenses, said Chandler, who added she would like the law changed to include Micronesians in the medical plans. In 1999, Gov. Ben Cayetano asked the U.S. Department of Interior for $11.5 million to reimburse the state for the welfare, health care, education and crime costs of about 6,000 Micronesians in Hawaii. [Rosemarie Bernardo, 06/29/01,Honolulu Star-Bulletin] 4. Join the Campaign to Leave No Child Behind The Children's Defense Fund has teamed up with scores of partner groups to mobilize children's advocates all over the country to generate support in Congress for the Act to Leave No Child Behind (H.R. 1990/S. 940). Introduced on 23 May 2001 by Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Congressman George Miller (D-CA), the Act to Leave No Child Behind will give each child and family the tools they need to be successful in school and in life. Among the health-related provisions are: * creating MediKids--a Medicare-type guarantee of coverage for all children as Medicare provides coverage for all senior citizens; * expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) eligibility levels to 300 percent of the Federal Poverty Level and eligibility age level through 21 years of age; * improving health services for children enrolled in Medicaid to ensure that all enrolled children receive services through the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment program (EPSDT); and * simplifying outreach and enrollment for Medicaid and CHIP. To join the campaign, visit the campaign's web site at http://www.childrensdefense.org/. After you join, you will receive periodic updates on the progress of the Campaign to Leave No Child Behind, invitations to participate in campaign activities, updates on the Act to Leave No Child Behind, and e-mail Action Alerts to let you know how you can have an impact on the outcome of important votes in Congress. You can begin to help by guiding your friends, coworkers and neighbors to sign up to join the campaign through the web site. Please direct all inquiries about the campaign to cdfcampaign@childrensdefense.org. 5. Free Online Resource For Health Care Data In All 50 States The Kaiser Family Foundation today launched a new Internet resource that offers comprehensive and current health information for all 50 states, District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. State Health Facts offers health policy information on a broad range of issues including health insurance and characteristics of the uninsured, enrollment and spending for Medicaid and CHIP, population demographics, and health status measures. This free resource allows users to easily view information for a single state or compare and rank data across all fifty states and compare it to U.S. totals. Information on more than 200 topics is displayed in easy-to-read tables and color-coded maps and can be downloaded for customized comparisons.