At a time when millions of Americans have been falling off insurance rolls, Florida has been able to provide coverage to tens of thousands of children, reports Kaiser Health News.
According to a study by the Georgetown University Center for Children, the Sunshine State was able to secure coverage for more than 160,000 children between 2008 and 2010--more than one-third of Florida's uninsured kids.
The state has ratcheted up its outreach efforts, particularly through the use of state and federal grants to market to families with uninsured children. It also has reduced some of the barriers of entry into its Children's Health Insurance Plan.
The move by Florida is likely to take some financial pressure off the state's hospitals and physicians, particularly as it is moving its Medicaid enrollees to managed care coverage.
"I feel very encouraged. This is exciting news," Jodi Ray, project director of Florida Covering Kids & Families at the University of South Florida, a statewide coalition that aims to get more children health coverage, told KHN.
To learn more:
- read the Kaiser Health News article
- here's the report