Beshear cuts red tape for kids' health insurance

from the Lexington Herald Leader

The Governor of Kentucky is making moves to get more children health insurance. The office admits that finding the money to do this will be difficult. - Kale

By Sarah Vos

In an attempt to get more children covered by health insurance, Gov. Steve Beshear is simplifying the enrollment process and making other changes to the Kentucky Children's Health Insurance Program.

His administration estimates the changes could encourage the parents of the 67,000 children who are eligible but not enrolled to participate in the federally sponsored program.

"To me, it is a moral obligation for Kentucky to provide adequate health care for its children," Beshear said.

The changes make economic sense as well, Beshear said in a meeting Tuesday with the Herald-Leader editorial board.

In the long run, the changes will help Kentucky cut it's chronic diseases expenses — the largest part of the state's Medicaid budget — and reduce the number of emergency room visits, Beshear said. It will also help Kentucky's schools.

"A healthy child has a much better chance of learning," he said.

Beshear is announcing the changes to KCHIP in a series of news conferences across the state starting Wednesday in Ashland.

KCHIP provides health insurance and dental and eye insurance to children whose parents make too much to qualify for Medicaid but less than 200 percent of the poverty level, or $42,400 for a family of four. About 52,000 children are currently enrolled.

The changes, which will begin in eight weeks, include eliminating a face-to-face interview for parents.

The face-to-face requirement, which only four other states require, prevents many children from enrolling, Beshear said. Many of those the program helps are single, working parents who can't take time from their jobs to go to an interview, he said.

Among other things, the state will:

Hire 28 people to process the additional applications and increase outreach.

Simplify the application itself and give applicants 30 days to provide missing information.

Train employees at federally qualified health care centers, free clinics and health departments to assist with applications

Recruit participants through other programs, like free and reduced lunch and food stamps.

Send a postcard to the parents of every newborn, telling them about KCHIP.

Beshear estimates that an additional 35,000 kids will be enrolled in the program by the end of fiscal year 2010. The changes will cost $6.1 million in state funding and $16.7 million in federal funds in the first year. In the second year, it will cost $25 million in state funds and $64.6 million in federal funds.

Link to full article. May expire in future.