| Important RIte Care Health Plan News |
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The Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS) has announced that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI) will no longer be a RIte Care health plan as of December 31, 2010. Although it has been a RIte Care plan since RIte Care began 16 years ago, BCBSRI decided not to submit a proposal to continue participating in RIte Care as part of the recent reprocurement of RIte Care contracts. DHS and BCBSRI will be working on transitioning 15,000 RIte Care members (6,600 families) from BCBSRI to the other two RIte Care health plans (Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island and UnitedHealthcare of New England) by year's end. |
| Congress Approves Extension of Medicaid Funds (FMAP) |
Congress has passed legislation that extends some of the additional federal funding for state Medicaid programs through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The increase in federal matching percentage (FMAP) that had been scheduled to end in December 2010 will instead end in June 2011. Rhode Island is expected to receive $72 million in extended FMAP funds, that will be used to provide health care coverage and services to children, families, people with disabilities and the elderly in Rhode Island.
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| Back to School - Getting Kids Covered |
It's nearly time for the kids to go back to school! One of the most important back to school supplies for every child is health insurance. Rhode Island's Back to School Celebration will be held on Saturday, August 21, 2010. More than 12,000 children will receive free backpacks with school supplies and families can learn more about community resources. If you want free Rhode Island KIDS COUNT materials to help spread the word about RIte Care to families with whom you work, please order them here.
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| Happy Birthday CHIP! |
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On August 5, 2010, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) marked its 13th birthday. A federal-state partnership, CHIP offers matching funds for states to ensure health coverage for children in families whose income is too high to qualify for Medicaid, but who don't earn enough to purchase private health insurance. Nationally, CHIP has reduced the number of uninsured children by almost a third, even as uninsured rates for adults increased steadily. CHIP is a major source of federal funding for RIte Care, Rhode Island's combination Medicaid/CHIP program for children and families. |
