State Children's Health Insurance and Medicaid Transportation

 

Project Investigators:

Project PI: Craig Blakely, PhD.

Senior Investigator: Steve Borders

 

Project Overview:

In 1997, Congress created the state Children's Health Insurance Program in response to concern over the growing number of children without health insurance. CHIP represents the single largest expansion of Medicaid since its enactment 35 years ago. States can use federal CHIP funding to extend medical services to uninsured children by either expanding their existing Medicaid programs, setting up separate child health insurance programs, or a combination of both. To encourage the targeting of low-income children, federal reimbursement of CHIP costs is increased. Under this enhancement arrangement, federal reimbursement ranges between 65% and 85% of CHIP costs. As of 2000, all states had establishes CHIP programs. (1) Although most states use a Medicaid expansion as part of their CHIP plan, two-thirds of all CHIP children are enrolled in separate, state-designed child health programs. (2) Medical transportation is specifically authorized under the CHIP enabling legislation. However, it is a mandated CHIP service only In Medicaid expansion program models. (3) In 2000, only seven states provide no medical transportation to children enrolled in CHIP programs. Another dozen states provided only partial transportation - limited to those children enrolled in Medicaid expansion CHIP programs. Thirty state plans called for full Medicaid coverage, including transportation benefits. This project will examine the existing federal transportation data available through the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA). The following databases are available: (1) Contact list of state Medicaid Transportation coordinators. (2) Contact list state CHIP coordinators. (3) Statistical profile and analysis of each state Medicaid Transportation Program (Includes CHIP data).

 

Project Funding Source:

Office of Rural Health Policy

 

Project Term:

September 2002-August 31, 2003

 

Project Reports:

 

Borders, S. Blakely, C., Raphael, D., and Conklin, M. (Oct. 2006). Non-emergency Medical Transportation in State Children’s Health Insurance Programs (SCHIP). College Station, TX: The Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, School of Rural Public Health, The Southwest Rural Health Research Center.  REQUEST A COPY