Covering the Uninsured Week

March 10 to 16

 

To highlight the plight of 41 million uninsured Americans including 300,000 West Virginians, the Healthy Kids Coalition is joining with many West Virginia and national partners to urge Congress to address the problem and find a solution.  A Covering the Uninsured Partnership in West Virginia will sponsor events the week of March 10 to 16 including:

 

March 10, Town Meetings

March 11, Campus Events

March 12, Health Fairs

March 13, Business and Labor Events

March 14 -16, Interfaith Services

 

To join the effort, plan an event or add your organization's voice as a partner.  Contact Julie Greathouse, Healthy Kids Coalition at 304-558-2397 or 558-1955, or via e-mail at jdg_outreach@hotmail.com.

 

Senator Jay Rockefeller introduces Legislation for SCHIP Funds

 

In Congress there is some support for legislation that will restore State Children's Health Insurance Program funds. In fiscal year 2002, $1.2 billion in SCHIP funds reverted to the federal treasury per SCHIP requirements. At the end of FY

2003, another $1.5 billion in funding is due to revert to the treasury.

Legislation introduced by Reps. Billy Tauzin (R-LA) and John Dingell (D-MI), as well as Sens. Olympia Snow (R-ME) and Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) would restore these funds through FY 2004. The majority of states are facing their most difficult fiscal situation in decades, giving them little or no hope of making up for SCHIP funding shortfalls. Many states would have no choice but to cut SCHIP enrollment, a devastating step backward for a program that was showing such progress in addressing the problems of the uninsured. West Virginia could lose coverage of more than 20,000 children. 

 

CHIP Requesting Additional Appropriation from the State

After three years of double-digit growth in health care expenditures, mainly caused by the soaring prescription drug costs, the WVCHIP annualized cost per child has grown from $1,285 per child in 2001 to $1,561 in 2003.  The agency has requested an additional $2.3 million in State dollars for a total of  $7.3, which is matched with federal funds at approximately an 18/73 percent match ratio.  These funds will cover the cost of providing the program to an average enrollment of 21,347 children.

 

Funding Opportunity for Covering Kids and Families Local Grantees

 

    The Center for Health Care Strategies (CHS) will announce a new funding opportunity designed to help improve access to health care services after enrollment for Medicaid and SCHIP beneficiaries.  Grants of up to $125,000 will be awarded to up to 25 current Covering Kids and Families local grantees.  The call for proposals will be available on February 15, 2020 at www.chcs.org/grantinfor.ckfai.html.  Proposals must be submitted on line no later than April 1, 2020.  In West

Virginia the three RWJF-funded Covering Kids and Families sites are meeting February 17 to discuss submitting one or more applications.

 

Enrollment Numbers as of September 30, 2020

Medicaid            171,164

CHIP                 20,958

TOTAL            192,122

There have been a total of 53,340 children enrolled into the CHIP since its inception in 1999. 

 

CHIP Outreach Activities in Nicholas County

Marla Short and her staff have developed an innovative method to

inform teenagers about available free and low-cost health insurance.  They have developed a partnership with the State Police and the Department of Motor Vehicles Offices to provide information and applications to teens that come in to take their drivers test in Nicholas, Webster, Braxton, Pocahontas, Upshur and Randolph Counties. 

 

 

West Virginia Healthy Kids Coalition

210 Brooks St., Suite 300

Charleston, WV  25301

 

Next WVHKC Meetings:

 

February 19, 2020

Children’ï¾s Day at the Legislature

Full Coaliton 1:00-3:00 p.m.

WV Hospital Association

 

February 21, 2020

Steering Committee 2:00-4:00 p.m.

Governor’ï¾s Cabinet Office

 

March 7, 2020

Steering Committee 10:00-12:00

Governor’ï¾s Cabinet Office

 

March 19

Outreach Committee10:00-12:00

Prevention Committee 1:00-3:00

WV Hospital Association Office

 

April 16

Steering Committee 10:00-12:00

Governor’ï¾s Cabinet Office 

 

WVHKC Steering Committee Nominees

The WVHKC Steering Committee Nominations for 2003 are as follows:

 

Co-Chairs- Nancy Tolliver ,  Renate Pore

Vice-Chair- Brian Cunningham

Community Members- Marla Short & Gary Zuckett

 

Elections for these positions will be held at the May Full Coalition Meeting.