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

Effective Date:

October 1, 2009 8 Approval Date: November 19, 2010 eligibility personnel currently assist patients in completing the forms and data is put into an automated Medicaid system on-site. Final determination for Medicaid can then be made immediately. If the children appear to be ALL Kids or ACCF eligible the application is forwarded to the appropriate program.

New applications, as well as annual reviews of established patients, are assessed by ADPH intake staff and/or care coordinators for possible referral for medical assistance through Medicaid, ACCF, or SSI. When appropriate, staff assist families in completing the application forms, making appointments, and gathering medical information. Out-stationed Medicaid eligibility workers are based in many ADPH clinics, hospitals, and primary care centers across the state. Additionally, two Medicaid outstationed workers and a clerk are now located in the CHIP office who process many ALL Kids referrals. A third worker will be added in FY 2003.

Cross training sessions with staff at many levels has improved interagency communication at the community level.

In order to provide additional outreach, the ADPH operates two toll-free telephone lines for use by the general public. The toll-free telephone lines (established prior to the implementation of CHIP and continued to the present) are known as Healthy Beginnings and Info Connection. Two integral parts of the information provided to callers, via these telephone lines, are information on Medicaid, ALL Kids, and ACCF eligibility and referrals to health providers who accept Medicaid-eligible children and Medicaid-eligible pregnant women. Referral services provided by the Healthy Beginnings and Info Connection staff members are expanded through consultation supplied by a host of additional professionals located within the ADPH. The toll-free number for Healthy Beginnings is 1-800-654-1385. The Info Connection number is 1-800-545-1098. Both lines are operational 24 hours a day, seven (7) days a week; office hours are from 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. each week day. The Healthy Beginnings and Info Connection lines are publicized statewide through newspapers, television, posters, and pamphlets. Presentations regarding the lines are conducted statewide to various organizations and agencies. The numbers are also published in Alabama South Central Bell telephone books. Additionally, with the implementation of CHIP, the CHIP unit maintains two toll-free telephone lines (888-373-5437 for enrollment and eligibility issues and 877-774-9521 for administrative issues). Finally, in addition to the above efforts, ALL Kids, Medicaid, and the Alabama Child Caring Foundation have developed a joint application and renewal form for use by all three programs. This enables families to be screened for eligibility for all three programs and facilitates referrals and timely enrollment in the appropriate program. See section 5 for additional outreach efforts.

Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) ADECA notifies the ALL Kids regional staff when a plant or large business plans to close in the near future. ALL Kids regional staff present ALL Kids information and materials at employee meetings prior to the plant/business closing. In order to prevent gaps in health insurance coverage for the children of the employees of the plant/business, an ALL Kids policy was developed which provides for beginning ALL Kids coverage (for eligible children) the day after