Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA)
On February 4, 2009, President Obama signed into law the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA). The new law (Public Law 111-3) is designed to provide coverage to significant numbers of uninsured children and to improve the quality of care that all of America’s children receive. CHIPRA is intended to strengthen and extend the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), formerly known as the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).
CHIPRA is not a new or separate program from SoonerCare. It is a funding mechanism for the SoonerCare program. The CHIPRA funds allow OHCA to expand SoonerCare to more uninsured children and to improve benefits for Oklahoma’s children. The outreach section within CHIPRA allows OHCA to outreach and educate Oklahoman’s on the benefits and availability of Insure Oklahoma and SoonerCare.
Get Involved
- Online Form - Please complete the CHIPRA and share your information with us for future workgroups.
There are many provisions within CHIPRA that are of interest to a wide and diverse group of consumers, providers, organizations, groups and agencies. The OHCA would like to know what area(s) of CHIPRA you are interested in, and if you are willing to participate in various workgroups aimed at development and implementation.
CHIPRA contains numerous provisions which have been sorted into eight major child and family health categories by the Center for Children and Families, Georgetown University Health Policy Institute, CHIPRA 2009 Overview and Summary released February 13, 2009.
- Financing/Funding for Children’s Coverage
- Reaching Eligible But Unenrolled Children
- Eligibility Rules for Children and Pregnant Women
- Coverage of Parents and Adults
- Premium Assistance
- Benefits and Access
- Child Health Quality
- Other Provisions
Expected results of CHIPRA include substantial health coverage gains for thousands of uninsured Oklahoma children. This improved coverage is especially critical during the current economic downturn when more and more families are losing jobs and health insurance. Many, if not most, of the children served by CHIP will be eligible under current rules but not enrolled. A significant portion of the funds made available through CHIPRA are dedicated to efforts to locate and connect children who are eligible, yet not benefitting from coverage through CHIP.
CHIPRA provides funding and policies that are designed to put CHIP coverage on a more secure financial footing. CHIPRA was designed to finance CHIP for the next four and a half years, providing Oklahoma with a projected $144.2 million for fiscal year 2009, an increase of 104 percent from fiscal year 2008. The enhanced CHIP funding, partnered with improved outreach and enrollment efforts, is expected to serve tens of thousands of uninsured Oklahoma children in the coming years.
CHIPRA Tools and Resources
CMS State Health Official Letter on CHIPRA