Just in...CRS report on SCHIP

A recent iClips AP item, "Child insurance program may face crunch," reported that several states will use up their share of federal money for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) which covers poor children. Once states spend their federal share, they must use their own money for insurance coverage or cut services. "Neither is a particularly attractive option for state legislatures."

The article cites a report by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) which the Library just obtained, State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP): A Brief Overview (HG9396 H47 2005). Approximately 6.2 million children were enrolled in SCHIP during FY2004. At the end of FY2004, about $1.3 billion in unspent funds expired. In "Forthcoming SCHIP issues," the report identifies federal financing as the main SCHIP issue facing Congress -- dealing with insufficient unspent funds to prevent state shortfalls and identifying the best method of distributing unspent federal funds among states. The report includes 50-state tables on SCHIP enrollment data, status of FY1998-2004 SCHIP funds, and status of FY2005 SCHIP funds.