Continuing to Provide Flexibility to States. This guidance helps states understand various types of possible demonstration projects and informs states of the information needed for approval. These states will now receive an enhanced federal match to cover low-income families with children who earn too much to qualify for traditional Medicaid, yet not enough to afford private coverage. Additionally, the New Jersey and Rhode Island demonstrations will expand coverage to pregnant women. Funds are allotted to each participating state according to their number of uninsured and low-income children, accounting for regional cost differences.
States have three years to spend a given year's allotment.
Allotments for each fiscal year are published in the Federal Register. These efforts include the Insure Kids Now campaign to help states reach families of uninsured children. NOW - that automatically directs callers to their state's program. The Federal Interagency Task Force on Children's Health Insurance Outreach, comprised of over 10 federal agencies, also prepared an outreach training kit for use by workers from these federal departments. In 2001, HRSA and the NGA began a series of conference calls with state program directors to share state hotline best practices.