February 10, 2009 President Obama Rescinds Controversial Bush Administration Memo on SCHIP Eligibility Guidelines When he signed the State Child Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) reauthorization this past week, President Obama also instructed the US Department of Health and Human Services to withdraw a directive issued by the Bush Administration in August 2007 that prohibited states from expanding eligibility guidelines. The controversial memo informed states that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) would not approve state plans to provide coverage to families with incomes above 200% of the Federal Poverty Level until the state could demonstrate it had enrolled 95% of children in poorer families. Many denounced the guidelines and several states sued the Administration. In August 2008, CMS said it would not enforce the guidelines but did not revoke the memo. By officially rescinding the memo February 4th, the Obama Administration clarified a major point of dispute and confusion in SCHIP program administration. For more background, please see: http://www.healthinschools.org/News-Room/EJournals/Volume-8/Number-8/Why-Mil lions-of-Eligible-Children-Lack-Medicaid-SCHIP.aspx

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