• The bill allows states to cover legal permanent resident children and pregnant women and eliminates the five-year bar. It is now a state option and states will be reimbursed for allowing that coverage. We are working hard in Iowa to assure that we offer that here.
• The bill allows for reimbursement for translation and interpretation services under Medicaid and CHIP. Allowable services include: when an individual enrolls in coverage, renews coverage, and utilizes coverage.
• The bill allows states to create a dental-only option under their CHIP plans for children who have medical but not dental coverage. We are also trying to get that created in Iowa this year.
• The bill includes performance bonuses to encourage states to enroll more currently eligible but unenrolled children. These bonuses are contingent on states implementing, throughout the fiscal year, at least five of eight simplification measures related to enrollment and renewal. As you know, we've always worked hard on this in Iowa, but we can do more. We are hopeful that we will enact more strategies so that we will be eligible for the bonus money.
• There will be outreach funds ($90 million) available to state and local governments, federally qualified health centers, disproportionate share hospitals, federal-public programs that serve children (like WIC or school lunch), faith-based groups, community-based groups, or schools.  The guidance for this outreach money has not yet been released.

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act