| Hospitals
help with CHIP B enrollment
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (IDHW) has set July 7-16 as open enrollment for the Childrens Health Insurance Program B. CHIP B is similar to the Medicaid program that financially helps children in low income families receive medical care. The CHIP B program expands income eligibility. People who earn more than was allowed in the CHIP A Medicaid program can qualify for medical assistance for a payment of $15 per month per child. The CHIP B program also includes an Access Card option. The IDHW will pay $100 per month per child up to $300 towards health insurance premiums for families that qualify for and choose the Access Card option. According to Casey Meza, CEO for Clearwater Valley Hospital & Clinics and St. Mary’s Hospital & Clinics, small businesses should promote this for their employees. Many businesses can only afford to partially insure their employees and not contribute toward health insurance for their family members, but the state’s Medicaid program will contribute $100 per month per child for those premiums, said Meza. Under the income guidelines, a family of one could have a maximum annual income of $17, 234; a family of two, $23, 107; a family of three, $27,990; a family of four could make as much as $34,872 to qualify for the CHIP B program. The toll free Idaho Careline, 211 or 866.326.2485 or 877.543.7669, or www.idahohealth.org (click CHIP) can provide additional information and further guidelines. Statewide, the program will cap the enrollment at the first 5600 eligible children whose families apply during the July 7-16 open enrollment period. “Our hospitals are hoping to partner with the Department of Health and Welfare, the local Community Action Partnership offices and the Covering Kids and Families Coalition to get the word out about this opportunity and to help enroll eligible families,” said Jeanette Gorman, CVHC/SMHC Community Relations Coordinator. “We hope to begin gathering applications as soon as possible, then mail them in during the open enrollment period.” There are an estimated 30,000 uninsured children in Idaho eligible for CHIP. Fun Run registrations are open St. Mary’s Hospital Home Health is accepting registrations for the Fun Run and Walk they will be sponsoring on Saturday, June 26 in conjunction with the Craigmont June Picnic. The 5K/3.1 mile course begins and ends at Highland High School. The registration fee is $12.00 which includes a 2004 T-shirt or $5.00 without a T-shirt. Preregistration is encouraged, but day of race registration will be held from 7:00-7:45 a.m. in the high school parking lot with the start scheduled for 8:00 a.m. You can preregister by filling out the registration form on the back of the race flyer. Flyers and forms can be picked up at the Home Health office in the Orr Building, from the receptionist at St. Mary’s Hospital or by calling SMHC Home Health, 962.2461. The forms can be mailed to SMHC c/o Home Health Fun Run, 701 Lewiston St., Cottonwood, ID 83522. The registration form includes T-shirt ordering information. |
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