Community groups key in signing up children for SCHIP

Churches, schools and employers are involved in SCHIP enrollment efforts, a new study finds.

By Amy Snow Landa, AMNews staff. Nov. 19, 2001.

Washington -- In the past, states have turned mostly to local hospitals, community health centers and physicians for help in enrolling children in their public health insurance programs.

Now many of them also are working with schools, churches, employers and community groups to get the word out to parents that their children may be eligible for subsidized health care through the State Children's Health Insurance Program, according to a new study by the Center for Studying Health System Change, based in Washington, D.C.

The study reports that these local groups -- which have not traditionally been involved in public health insurance activities -- can play a crucial role in identifying hard-to-reach children and informing parents about public health insurance.

"What we found is that local people know their communities best and can customize SCHIP outreach efforts to enroll eligible children in their communities," said Laurie Felland, lead author of the study, which was based on interviews with state and local leaders, health care advocates and others in 12 communities around the country.

Among the study's findings are that religious organizations are increasingly involved in SCHIP outreach. Indianapolis churches, for example, have received funding from the state SCHIP agency to help their members complete applications for Hoosier Healthwise. Because of recent changes in federal law, states are allowed to contract with faith-based groups if the individuals they target are not required to participate in religious activities. [...]