Article Reviews: Political Challenges of the CHIP
Article 1: Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP): Accomplishments, Challenges, and Policy Recommendations. (n.d.). Retrieved May 03, 2016, from http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/133/3/e784
This article by Committee on Child Health Financing offers both the legislative background and evolution of the CHIP together with its accomplishments, of course, the key aspect of problematic issues are also addressed in the article. Towards the end, the article offers various recommendations to both healthcare providers and the government for consideration. This article not only acknowledges the signal successes by the ACA-(Affordable Care Act) in their extension of the health insurance covers including the CHIP, but it also airs out certain crucial political challenges and concerns revolving around this program. Some of these policy elements include; reformation practices for the insurance market of the health sector and incentivizing opportunities that would moderate the costs incurred for the attainment of healthcare.
Equally fundamental is the idea of being alert especially on the new laws raising concerns with regards to the fate of CHIP. Of course most of such concerns emerge from the understanding of particular legislation features which can be outlined as; firstly, the ongoing question of CHIP’s funding which is always preserved for a given period. Secondly, the creation of inconsistencies raised by significant Supreme Court rulings which, in most cases, uphold state participation in the expansion of CHIP as optional may render some deserving population ineligible for public funding particularly in states that would opt not to adopt such expansions.
Article 2: The State Children's Health Insurance Program: Past, Present, and Future. (n.d.). Retrieved May 03, 2016, from http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/fund-reports/2007/feb/the-state-childrens-health-insurance-program--past--present--and-future
Unlike the first article which mostly give overall socio-political challenges facing CHIP, this article sponsored by the Commonwealth Fund Publications, however, offers detailed highlights of the programs in the past, current and future phases. The previous phase gives insights on the program’s history and design; the present phase tends to look into program’s achievements and challenges; while the future phase, which also tends to be the most critical aspect, looks into major issues in program’s reauthorization. Three main points, especially with regards to present and future political matters are explicitly mentioned in this article. Firstly, is the challenge of who should be covered by the program? Of course, option one could be the enrollment of already eligible children, but it is burdening to continued enrollment and re-enrollment policies prove as impediments to this option.
Again, from the government’s perspective, outreach barrier to the program could be the cost factor. Congress too can alter eligibilities for this program, which may, for instance, eliminate those income-eligible but barred from program exclusions, or it may open it to all the uninsured children irrespective of income. Second is the political debate of what coverage should be offered to children of this program. Present coverage meets either benchmark by the legislation or Health Services’ approval. But there is the need to fill the existing gaps which might prompt the desire by some quotas to have flexibility in implementing partial benefit packages. The third issue addresses the financing logistics for the program. There are, of course, three options that are for consideration by the Congress. They include; better usage of the existing funding, improving the present structure of the program, a change of the financing structure.
The majority of political challenges presented in both of the articles have similar interpretations. They both have concerns of desire for better, accessible and affordable healthcare for the American children. However, the second article put lots of emphases on the financing aspect while the first article gives an overall context of the program.
Professional Relevance
In as much as the second article points out more politically oriented challenges and issues surrounding the program, I would, however, recommend the first article to be the most relevant to a health service provider or professional. First, it is a publication by the committee on financing of children’s healthcare comprising of people drawn from the American Academy of Pediatrics, who are professionals in nature. Secondly, the full article offers relevant recommendations at the end of their report which seem essential to a health professional.
References
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP): Accomplishments, Challenges, and Policy Recommendations. (n.d.). Retrieved May 03, 2016, from http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/133/3/e784
The State Children's Health Insurance Program: Past, Present, and Future. (n.d.). Retrieved May 03, 2016, from http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/fund-reports/2007/feb/the-state-childrens-health-insurance-program--past--present--and-future
