Louisiana Medicaid and SCHIP Waiver

SCHIP - On February 28, 2008, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced their approval for an increase in the eligibility level for children in the Louisiana State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) from 200 to 250 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL). The state will depart from the delivery model used for the current SCHIP population to serve the newly-covered children. The new program will be administered by the same group that coordinates the state employees’ benefit plan. The benefits will be benchmarked to the state employees plan and will use its network of providers. Parents will pay $50 per month to enroll their children, and they will be required to pay similar copayments and deductibles as state employees.