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Enrolling uninsured children in SCHIP. Lessons learned from community health centers
Lea Nolan1, Ann Zuvekas, Jennel Harvey
1Center for Health Services Research and Policy, George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.
Insights
Community health centers explored various strategies to enroll children in the State Child Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Lessons learned from 14 centers in six states offer valuable insights for other safety-net providers.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Public Health Policy
- Pediatric Healthcare Access
Background:
- The State Child Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) was created in 1997 to insure low-income children.
- Community health centers (CHCs) play a vital role in healthcare access for underserved populations.
- Enrollment strategies for SCHIP vary among CHCs seeking to cover previously uninsured children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the diverse approaches CHCs have used to enroll children in SCHIP.
- To identify and share lessons learned from CHC-based SCHIP enrollment initiatives.
- To provide valuable insights for primary care centers and other safety-net providers.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study examining enrollment experiences.
- Data collected from 14 community health centers across six states.
- Analysis focused on strategies and outcomes related to SCHIP enrollment.
Main Results:
- Identified a range of differing enrollment strategies employed by CHCs.
- Documented practical lessons and challenges encountered during the enrollment process.
- Highlighted the importance of tailored approaches for successful child enrollment.
Conclusions:
- Lessons from CHC SCHIP enrollment efforts are transferable to other safety-net settings.
- Effective enrollment strategies can improve healthcare access for uninsured children.
- Primary care centers can benefit from understanding these diverse enrollment experiences.
Abstract:
In 1997 Congress established the State Child Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to address the problem of the nation's low-income uninsured children. To help children become eligible for SCHIP and to tap into the potential revenue stream for previously uninsured children, community health centers have taken differing approaches. This study examines the lessons learned from enrolling children at 14 health centers in six states. The lessons can be valuable for primary care centers and other safety-net providers.