On Thursday January 27, 2022, CMS announced the availability of $49 million to fund organizations that can connect more eligible children, parents, and pregnant individuals to health care coverage through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Awardees—including state/local governments, tribal organizations, federal health safety net organizations, non-profits, schools, and others—will receive up to $1.5 million each for a three-year period to reduce the number of uninsured children by advancing Medicaid/CHIP enrollment and retention.

Funded organizations will provide enrollment and renewal assistance to children and their families, as well as pregnant people—a new optional target population in this year’s award announcement.

Applicants will be encouraged to consider a range of activities, including:

  • Engaging schools and other programs serving young people;
  • Bridging racial and demographic health coverage disparities by targeting communities with low coverage rates;
  • Establishing and developing application assistance resources to provide high-quality, reliable enrollment and renewal services in local communities;
  • Using social media to conduct virtual outreach and enrollment assistance; and
  • Using parent mentors and community health workers to assist families with enrolling in Medicaid and CHIP, retaining coverage, and addressing social determinants of health.

There are approximately four million children who are uninsured (nearly 25 percent in the state of Texas). It is believed that many families do not know that their children may be eligible or understand how to enroll. According to the CMS announcement disparities remain with American Indian and Alaska Native children experiencing the highest uninsured rate (11.8%), followed by Hispanic (11.4%) and non-Hispanic Black children (5.9%).  Applications will be accepted through March 28, 2022.

For more information visit:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=337485