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Model Application Template for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program

Effective Date:

October 1, 2009 55 Approval Date: November 19, 2010 eligibility, outreach and enrollment, and (3) funding. These subcommittee meetings were open to interested individuals and groups. At least three news conferences were held by the State Health Officer and/or the Medicaid Commissioner.

Public awareness was promoted through means such as television programs. Interested organizations such as Alabama ARISE, the Alabama Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, and Voices for Alabama’s Children were provided information for their membership about CHIP. Media coverage was provided and CHIP information has been made available on the Internet at: http://www.adph.org/allkids (formerly: http://www.alapubhealth.org) since October 2, 1998. During the first six and one-half month period of October 4 through April 21, 1998, 1,247 hits were made on this site specifically requesting CHIP information. This website includes a description of the program, a calendar of scheduled events, and an opportunity for interested persons to express their opinions about the program’s development. Order forms are available at every presentation. These forms enable participants to fax orders to the ALL Kids office and receive printed materials at no charge. The largest number of requests for information (312) came during the month of January. Newspaper editorials have praised the value of this program for our State’s children.

The CHIP Task Force Work Groups were comprised of employees of the Alabama Medicaid Agency, Public Health Department employees, and other interested parties including representatives of the Alabama Primary Care Association, Alabama ARISE, the Alabama Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, Voices for Alabama’s Children, the Alabama Child Caring Foundation, Alabama Dental Association, Alabama Hospital Association, Alabama Psychological Association, American Academy of Pediatrics-Alabama Chapter, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Children First, Children’s Health System, Children’s Hospital of Alabama, Family Voices, Health Maintenance Organization Association, Legislative Fiscal Office, Legislative Reference Service, Medical Association of the State of Alabama, University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of South Alabama, University of South Alabama Children’s and Women’s Hospital, United Health Care, as well as other State agencies including the Department of Education, the Department of Human Resources, the Department of Mental Health/Mental Retardation, State Employees’ Insurance Board, State Insurance Department, and the Department of Rehabilitation Services. These entities are now referred to as stakeholders and they continue to be involved as program changes are developed.

The Alabama program will continue to inform the general public about CHIP through the news media, to announce planning meetings, and to invite additional groups with an interest in being involved or informed as they become identified. There was extensive public involvement in the preparation of a comprehensive 133-page report which was released to the Alabama Legislature on January 12, 1998. In relation to the Governor’s Task Force on Children’s Health Insurance, periodic reports on the progress of recommendations contained the report are made.