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Immigrant Children's Health Improvement Act
Current as of January 5, 2010 The Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA) included language from ICHICA, the Immigrant Children Health Improvement ACT. CHIPRA eliminates the five-year waiting period for legal immigrant children and pregnant women who are eligible for Medicaid or CHIP. This was put into place in 1996 and California, along with 18 other states offered state-only dollars to cover this population. These states will now be able to cover immigrant children and pregnant women with a federal match. Other states will now have the option of expanding federally funded coverage to this group of legal immigrants as well. The passage of CHIPRA came just in the nick of time as the California legislature was poised to eliminate coverage due to the severe state fiscal crisis. In order to be covered by Medicaid and CHIP, legal immigrant children and pregnant women will be required to verify their citizenship status every time they renew their coverage. The law reiterates the existing ban on federally funded coverage for illegal immigrants. National Immigration Law Center Center on Budget and Policy Priorities None at this time. If you have any questions, or need more information, please contact Tahira Bazile at tbazile@cpca.org.
Copyright ©2005 California Primary Care Association. Contact information and legal disclaimers.
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