SCHIP growth under study

• By MARSHA SHULER
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Jan 25, 2009 - Page: 1A - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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State health officials are analyzing the cost of expanding Louisiana’s health insurance program for children to also cover the children of legal immigrants.

Louisiana, like other states, could provide the coverage to children in homes where the parents are on track to become U.S. citizens under federal legislation that has passed the U.S. House of Representatives.

The provision is part of federal legislation that would renew and expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, known as SCHIP, and implement a hefty cigarette tax to help fund it.

It has become an immigration issue among some Republicans in Congress who oppose the expansion.

Some version of the legislation is expected to win final approval.

Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal refused to be interviewed on what his health secretary terms a “public policy” issue.

Jindal’s Chief of Staff Timmy Teepell said the immigration issue is one that the governor doesn’t yet have to face because the legislation hasn’t passed.

The administration has told the members of the state’s congressional delegation that a top Louisiana priority is renewal of SCHIP, which provides health insurance to children in low- to moderate-income households. But it has not weighed in on legislation specifics.

The SCHIP program has allowed Louisiana to go from having 20 percent or more uninsured children to about 5 percent uninsured children — a statistic that gives state officials hope of improved health and reduced medical costs.

State Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Alan Levine said his agency is gathering information on how many immigrant children could be eligible for the insurance coverage and the financial impact should the state go that route.

“Louisiana has a clear record of opting to cover as many children as we can. I don’t think that is going to change,” Levine said. “We need to do the financial analysis of what it’s going to cost and can we afford it.”

Going into the next budget year, the health care agency is facing the potential of deep cuts — although a federal, economic stimulus package could relieve the financial stress.

The health status of the state’s immigrant population counts against Louisiana when national rankings are done, Levine said.
Louisiana already covers pre-natal care of legal immigrants — a policy that started in mid-2007 under former Gov. Kathleen Blanco, a Democrat.