Making the US Department of Health and Human Services more responsive to the people it serves

Making the US Department of Health and Human Services more responsive to the people it serves

President Bush, before he was elected, pledged to make the federal government more responsive to those it serves. This is being evidenced in the number of waivers granted to states, helping them serve families in innovative ways. Between January 20 and April 20, 2001, the Department of Health and Human Services approved 247 waivers and state plan amendments for programs like Medicaid and SCHIP. By speeding up and simplifying the waiver approval process,the administration is rewarding and encouraging innovation and working in partnership with states. The result is that states are able to provide more access and better health care to hundreds of thousands of Americans. For example in Colorado two changes in the Colorado State Children's Health Insurance Program have been approved that will allow the state to eliminate monthly premiums in the program and substitute a nominal annual enrollment fee of $25 for one child or $35 for eligible families with two or more children whose income is between 151 percent and 185 percent of the federal poverty level(FPL). The second change streamlines the state's application and enrollment process to make it easier for families to sign up for coverage. The state expects to cover 29,743 children this year. In Louisiana a request to extend the CommunityCARE program has been approved. CommunityCARE's physician primary care case managers co-ordinate health care and increase access to preventive care for approximately 46,000 people enrolled in Medicaid.