California Lawmaker Introduces $50M Bill To Help States Develop Web-Based CHIP Enrollment Systems
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) last week introduced a bill (HR 5233) that would provide grants to help states develop Internet-based enrollment systems for their CHIP programs. Under the "SCHIP Web-Based Enrollment Act of 2002," which would take effect in 2003, states would receive $50 million in grants over five years to develop Web-based systems to enroll children and families in their CHIP and Medicaid programs. The HHS secretary would administer the grants. In addition, the legislation would require HHS to provide states with technical assistance and information on Health-e-App, the online CHIP and Medicaid enrollment system used in California and Arizona (Bill text, 7/25). California residents who use Health-e-App, developed in part by the California HealthCare Foundation, can complete an online application for Medi-Cal or Healthy Families rather than a lengthy paper application that they would have to mail to the state. Health-e-App informs applicants whether they qualify for Medi-Cal or Healthy Families in a few seconds. In the past, applicants had to wait several weeks to learn whether they qualified for the programs (California Healthline, 4/24). For more iHealth & Technology stories, visit iHealthBeat.org, a new Web publication sponsored by CHCF.
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