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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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