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

Effective Date:

Approval Date: 25 • broadening and incorporating automatic information dissemination systems within organizations that have frequent contact with families; • increasing the emphasis on all aspects of disease and disability prevention; • communicating the fact that, through TexCare, families can afford to keep their children healthy and protected in the event of illness; and • emphasizing family maintenance of health care coverage and appropriate utilization of services. Other states' experience also shows that the program and the enrolled children benefit when efforts are made to keep enrolled children in health care coverage when their first period of eligibility expires. Based on this experience, the state adopted the following goals for the next phase of outreach for TexCare: • a long-term, integrated communication plan that includes coordinated community-based and statewide initiatives; • an appropriate level of call-to-action through broad appeals and mass communications to reach eligible families; • mass media messages and activities by TexCare contracted CBOs and health plans shifting primary emphasis from a call-to-action to the idea that through TexCare, families can afford to keep their children healthy and protected in the event of illness; • increased emphasis on activities by TexCare CBOs and stakeholders to place TexCare information in the hands of families at times and places in which they are likely to be motivated by and interested in the information; • activities by TexCare CBOs and stakeholders to work within organizations that have regular contact with families, i.e., emergency rooms, provider offices, pharmacies, schools, to set in place automatic and recurring "systems" to inform families and help them apply for health care coverage through TexCare; and • continued activities to support enrollee families in successfully completing their annual renewal process, involving health plans, the administrative services contractor, and TexCare CBOs.

The CHIP Car Safety Seat Pilot was a collaborative effort between HHSC and the Texas Injury Prevention (TIP) Network. The pilot was conducted in Hidalgo and Starr counties. The purpose of the pilot was to encourage families to complete their CHIP renewal and increase the appropriate use of child safety seats through the distribution of and training in the proper use of safety seats. Families in the pilot area entering the renewal process were informed they could qualify to receive an age and weight appropriate car seat and safety training. Qualified families made an appointment to attend safety training and receive a car seat when they completed the CHIP renewal process. The TIP Center utilized the broadest possible community participation, including health plans, contracted CHIP community-based organizations, and local health departments. This event-based plan involved