WICS Live: Around the States

Montana: State Plans Swift Action to Implement Healthy Montana Kids Program. The program, which combines the state CHIP and Medicaid programs, began October 1st. The Department of Public Health and Human Services estimates that another 30,000 children could be added to the current 70,000 enrollees over the next two years. To help this along, the state September 24th announced a broad outreach effort in an effort to reach uninsured children and their families. The state has also cut the application in half, to 6 pages, and streamlined program administration. Under the new program, families earning up to $55,000 will qualify. Officials estimate there are 34,000 uninsured children in Montana, which ranks the state fifth in uninsured children.