Louisiana Seeks Federal SCHIP Reimbursement

State Children's Health Insurance Program

Louisiana is seeking about $2.5 million in federal SCHIP reimbursementsfor prenatal care provided to pregnant women who are not U.S. citizens,the Baton Rouge Advocate reports. The state expanded LaCHIP,the states version of SCHIP, earlier this year, and since July, it hasprovided prenatal care to about 1,061 noncitizens. The expansion cost$3.17 million during the first three months.

According to CMSspokesperson Mary Kahn, undocumented immigrants are ineligible forgovernment-funded health programs or services, including SCHIP, exceptin emergency situations. Noncitizens who have green cards can becomeeligible for coverage only after they have been in the country for fiveyears, Kahn said. According to Kahn, Louisiana's spending on care forpregnant noncitizens is "not reimbursable." Kahn said labor anddelivery is the "only coverage" available for noncitizen pregnant women.

LaCHIPAdministrator Ruth Kennedy said the state contends the cost of careshould be reimbursed by the federal government because LaCHIP providescoverage for the unborn child, not the mother. Kennedy noted a 2002change in SCHIP rules that allows states to cover children "fromconception to birth and up to age 19" regardless of the pregnantwoman's immigration status. She added that it is cost-effective toprovide prenatal care to pregnant women who are not citizens to ensurethat infants are born healthy.

Non-U.S. citizens in 56 of thestate's 64 parishes receive prenatal care through the program,according to a state report. The women must fill out applications andhave incomes no higher than 200% of the federal poverty level for afamily of four. The program does not report the immigration status ofpregnant women but would disclose the information if asked by the Department of Homeland Security, Kennedy said (Shuler, Baton Rouge Advocate, 11/14).

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