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Louisiana

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Medicaid, SCHIP, & Federal Authority

  • 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.

     

High-Risk Pools

  • The Louisiana Health Plan, Louisiana’s high risk pool and HIPAA pools, became operational in 1992 and is financed through several sources, including state general revenues, the Louisiana mandated service charge, insurer assessments, and policyholder premiums. The premiums range from 125 percent to 200 percent of market rate for comparable coverage. By the end of 2005, just under 1,200 people were enrolled in the program.