The CHIP program is the largest expansion of health coverage since the passage of Medicare/Medicaid. Over the five years from FY 1998 forward, 24 billion dollars became available to cover health care for children. Early sources estimated that free or low cost health care might be provided to half the nation's uninsured children. Early enrollment efforts have been disappointing.. No easy answers are available as to why figures are so low. Some states limited income eligibilities initially, and expanded them only in October, 1999 (as in Arizona, the state discussed in this abstract). In May, 99, the INS issued clarification about participation in this program still allowing people to apply for changes in naturalization status. This should increase enrollment in states with larger immigrant populations. This abstract compares the approaches of 10 different projects in Arizona , most of which focus on minority (largely Hispanic) populations. Some projects began with strong connections with health care delivery systems.. Others focused on development of a promotorra model or involvement with local school systems. Six projects are urban and four are rural. Different approaches have experienced varying levels of early success depending upon the characteristics of the area and the outreach approach. Rural minority communities have greater success with more personal based methods. Urban minority communities are more knowledgeable about recent legal changes. Thus barriers to enrollment differ across different projects, partially based on the nature of the community and ethnicity.
Learning Objectives: 1. Learn more about origins of CHIP program and current operational issues 2. Learn about enrollment issues generally 3. learn about specific outreach efforts in 10 projects in state of Arizona 4. be able to apply some of outreach suggestions from these projects to other state settings
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.