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

Effective Date: August 24, 2001

Approval Date: 7 that 9,600 children under the age of 19 are uninsured in South Dakota as of the year 2000 . South Dakota believes that number to be further reduced, as evidenced by the preceding table for inclusion of enrollment of uninsured children in the years 2001 and 2002. South Dakota believes the enrollment of nearly 20,000 uninsured children into Medicaid or SCHIP, since implementation of SCHIP in July of 1998, has had a major impact on the number of uninsured children in South Dakota.

Minority enrollments have also increased significantly under the State’s SCHIP efforts. The most recent Statistical Enrollment Data System (March 2002) indicates that South Dakota had 1,839 American Indian children enrolled in the SCHIP program. This represents over 23% of the total number of children enrolled in the SCHIP program. Enrollment of American Indian children in Medicaid and SCHIP collectively, has grown by 44% from July 1, 1998 to March of 2002. It is the Department’s opinion that SCHIP efforts have been successful in increasing the number of American Indian children with creditable health coverage.

2.2. Describe the current state efforts to provide or obtain creditable health coverage for uncovered children by addressing: (Section 2102)(a)(2) (42CFR 457.80(b))

2.2.1. The steps the state is currently taking to identify and enroll all uncovered children who are eligible to participate in public health insurance programs (i.e. Medicaid and state-only child health insurance):

State efforts to enroll uninsured children prior to the implementation of the SCHIP program in South Dakota are documented in the original SCHIP plan. Medicaid was the primary public health insurance program at that time and the SCHIP program efforts built upon the existing Medicaid program. The key relationships with other DSS programs, Public Health, Education, Human Services and IHS will continue to be in place and are a vital part of SCHIP outreach efforts.

The enrollment of SCHIP eligible children is greatly enhanced by the widespread availability of Medicaid eligibility throughout the state. Coordinated delivery of multiple programs from the Department of Social Services using generalized co- located eligibility workers and automated information systems enhance the identification and enrollment of children into SCHIP and Medicaid. Access to program coverage is greatly assisted by the widespread availability of participating Medicaid providers throughout the state.

Established relationships with other public health programs operated by the State of South Dakota also provide numerous opportunities to identify and enroll children into Medicaid and SCHIP. Interagency agreements between the Departments of Health and Social Services establish referral mechanisms