Speaker Curtis Proposes CHIP Overhaul

Jan 22, 2008 by Elizabeth Ziegler

Bill Would Remove Enrollment Cap for State-Funded Program

(KCPW News) House Leadership announced their top Legislative Priorities Monday, including revamping a state-funded children's health insurance program. House Speaker Greg Curtis is proposing legislation to remove the CHIP enrollment cap.

                  

"If the child qualifies with their family's circumstances, then they can enroll in CHIP throughout the year. It is not a question of, ‘Is there funding there or not?'" Curtis says. "But they can enroll and we will meet the funding needs associated with that."

CHIP currently has a limited enrollment, based on the amount of funding allocated by the Legislature. Karen Crompton, executive director of Voices for Utah Children, says removing the enrollment cap is a good idea. Out of the state's 90-thousand uninsured children, she says 70-thousand are eligible for the program.

"We could provide coverage for nearly every child in this state. We don't need new legislation. We don't need additional programs. Certainly we need the funding to cover all those kids. But the program is there, it's cost effective, and it works," Crompton says. As of December, 30-thousand children have health insurance coverage through the CHIP program. But with additional funding allocated last year, the program could cover 10-thousand more children.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom. Copyright 2008 KCPW