Innovative School-Based Outreach and Enrollment Tactics for Medicaid and CHP+ - Fall 2009
CKF produced a brief highlighting the outreach and enrollment work done by three school-based pilot projects that make it easier for families to enroll their children into Medicaid and CHP+ through schools.  These three pilot sites find low-income, uninsured children by sharing necessary information as families apply for free- or reduced-price lunches and are able to determine eligibility for Medicaid and CHP+ on site. Click here to learn about the work done and lessons learned by the pilots.

2009 Third Quarter Colorado Medicaid & CHP+ Enrollment Report
The purpose of this report is to illustrate children’s enrollment changes in Colorado’s Medicaid and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) programs and if appropriate, identify corresponding legislation, rule changes, and other factors that may have contributed to an increase or decrease. This report briefly reviews 2009 first and second quarters and describes 2009 third quarter enrollment.

Colorado Medicaid and CHP+ Enrollment - 2009 Quarter Three

CKF Report: The Maze – April 2009
CKF is excited to release a new report that examines the maze uninsured kids and families must navigate to enroll in Colorado Medicaid and CHP+. Using valuable insight from Coalition members, CKF describes the numerous barriers applicants face and options for reform. The report also provides twenty recommendations, based on a review of administrative and policy options and best practices, to guide Colorado’s decision-makers as they work to simplify the path to Medicaid and CHP+ coverage. Click here to find out how CKF partners can help!

The Maze: The Barriers that Keep Colorado’s Eligible Children and Families Out of Medicaid and CHP+ and Recommendations to Create a Direct Path to Enrollment

Check out CKF’s News Release: “Colorado’s Uninsured Kids and Families Must Run Maze to Enroll”

Maze Report Recommendation: Add Affidavit to Application to Establish Children’s Identity
CKF developed a brief fact sheet about “The Maze” report’s recommendation to add an affidavit to verify identity for children under 16 to Colorado’s joint application. Several states incorporate an affidavit directly on their application for assistance. Click here to learn more about this recommendation, states that already use this strategy, and sample language. CKF continues to advocate for this and other recommendations from the report.

Lessons from CKF in Colorado – November 2008
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation produced an issue brief providing an historical review of Covering Kids and Families in Colorado.  The brief describes CKF’s strategies and victories in three key areas: outreach, simplification and coordination.  Special thanks for our Coalition and Work Group members for their help in achieving these successes!

Improving Public Coverage for Children: Lessons From CKF in Colorado

Who We Are
Colorado Covering Kids and Families (CKF) is a statewide project that works to ensure that all children and families eligible for Medicaid and the Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) are enrolled in the programs. CKF was created in 2002 as part of a national initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The project continues today thanks to the support of local foundations and the ongoing dedication of the CKF Coalition and our partners.

What We Know
Almost two-thirds of Colorado’s 180,000 uninsured children are eligible for public health insurance programs like Medicaid and the Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+). Unfortunately, too many eligible children face barriers to enrollment. Without coverage, these children are eight times more likely than insured children to miss out on needed medical care.

What We Do
Colorado CKF’s mission is to increase access to health coverage and health care for all children and families in Colorado. Together with our Coalition members and partners Colorado CKF works to:

• Simplify enrollment and re-enrollment processes;
• Improve coordination between existing public health insurance programs, like CHP+ and Medicaid; and
• Create sustainable improvements in public heath insurance programs and health care for children and families.

How We Do It
Colorado CKF is guided by a statewide coalition that includes more than 300 individuals from over 170 agencies and organizations. Coalition members include child health and consumer advocates, health care providers, public school districts, county health departments, outreach workers, health policy experts, and Medicaid and CHP+ administrators. CKF organizes this unique coalition to work together to reduce Medicaid and CHP+ enrollment and re-enrollment barriers and to improve the administration of the programs.

CKF Work Groups: CKF coordinates projects with the cooperation of the Advisory Committee and two work groups, the Agency Partners Work Group and the Health Policy Work Group. Members of the Agency Partner Work Group include Medicaid and CHP+ enrollment professionals from across the state. Members of Health Policy Work Group include health advocates from around Colorado.
To learn more about the two work groups, visit the CKF Coalition page.

CKF Sponsors
Rose Community Foundation
The Colorado Health Foundation
The Denver Foundation
Caring for Colorado Foundation
Kaiser Permanente

To learn more about CKF nationally, visit Covering Kids & Families.