PA DHS Takes Control of Children’s Health Insurance

Pennsylvania changes CHIP processing for Medicaid transition families

As families transition from Medicaid to the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in Pennsylvania, it is important for them to be aware of changes in how enrollees are processed, according to Becky Ludwick, vice president of public policy for Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children. From 21 June, the Department of Human Services will be responsible for determining CHIP eligibility, processing new applications, and renewals for over 130,000 existing CHIP families, replacing CHIP health insurance plans. Ludwick emphasized the timing of these changes amid the Medicaid winding-down is of concern. Families can enroll in CHIP year-round via phone, county assistance offices, online applications, or the Compass mobile app, and the program covers any uninsured child. The state determines which families are eligible for no-cost monthly coverage, and no family earns too much money to qualify. A small fee is payable for some CHIP categories.

Ohio child-welfare caseworker vacancies impact community responses

Ohio’s 88 counties are struggling to recruit and retain child-welfare caseworkers, with one in four caseworkers leaving their positions between 2016 and 2017. The pandemic has exacerbated shortages, and concerns have been raised about the impact on child welfare. Sarah Fortner, deputy director of Fairfield County Protective Services, underlined the physical and mental toll of the demanding job, which involves working with families dealing with abuse, substance use, trauma, and other complex issues. Caseworkers build connections with families and seek to identify supports and services to help them thrive, but falling salaries, high workloads, and low prioritization underpin the worker shortages. Stacy Cox, Director of Champaign County’s Department of Job and Family Services, believes policymakers should double or triple workforces throughout the state to facilitate caseloads manageable by caseworkers, which would help address lower caseloads, improve the work-life balance, and make for healthier client relationships.

Washington state legislature expands aid for child care system

Senate Bill 5225 in Washington aims to expand access to child care by opening eligibility to more parents, workers in the field, and those attending therapeutic courts, according to Ryan Pricco, Director of Policy and Advocacy for Child Care Aware of Washington. The legislation broadens eligibility to child care workers earning up to 85% of the state median income through the Working Connections Child Care program, which helps people to pay for care while removing questions about immigration status from applications. Gabriela Quintana, Family Economic Security Senior Policy Associate with the Economic Opportunity Institute, described the bill as exciting, saying it covers a broad range of people and expands eligibility. While policymakers made gains this session, more remains to be done to improve affordability and availability of child care across the state.

Decline in US child population reported in 2023 census

The Annie E. Casey Foundation has reported a decline in the US child population, with over one million children not counted in the 2023 census. North Carolina has seen an increase in its child population, but the national trend could affect education, healthcare, and the workforce. Nathan Dollar, director of Carolina Demography at the Carolina Population Center, suggested that the decline could be linked to low fertility rates and other factors, indicating a need for immigration in population and economic growth. Rural areas are particularly hard-hit, with K-12 school consolidation and inadequate health-care support, and a 16% drop in overall births since 2007 has put pressure on caring for aging populations and children.

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