Extending health care to more kids

OneWorld Community Health Center is looking for 6,000 kids.

The agency that generally provides health care to the underserved has received $706,264 from the federal government to create a program to enroll thousands of children in either of two government insurance programs for low-income children.

Many metro-area children are eligible but aren't enrolled because their families don't know the programs exist or don't know their kids could qualify, said Andrea Skolkin, chief executive officer of OneWorld. That means some of those children are going without health care or are getting far less than they could.

OneWorld's goal is to enroll at least 6,000 children. The agency's outreach effort has just begun.OneWorld will place staff members in day care centers, schools, after-school programs, churches, food pantries, organizations and other places.

'We want to be where people are versus making people come to us,' Skolkin said.

They will contact families at those sites and determine whether they have children who qualify but aren't enrolled in Medicaid or the state's Children's Health Insurance Program.

The staff members will have laptops to take down information and scanners to scan in citizenship documents and proof of Nebraska residency. Children must be citizens to receive the health care benefits.

The agency also will take referrals. For information, call 502-8888.

OneWorld, based in the Livestock Exchange Building, 4920 S. 30th St., has hired a director and will employ five full-time staffers for the program. OneWorld also has a clinic in Plattsmouth.

President Barack Obama this year allocated $40 million to agencies in 42 states and Washington, D.C., for programs to conduct enrollment efforts over the next two years.

Through a competitive process, OneWorld was one of 69 entities to receive money. Iowa doesn't have a program among the 69. An additional $40 million will be distributed in 2012.

Enrollment among children in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program has gradually risen in Iowa and Nebraska. The economy has worsened and awareness of the programs has broadened, spokesmen in Iowa and Nebraska say.

A child qualifies for Medicaid if his family's annual income is at or somewhat above the federal poverty level, which is $18,310 for a family of three.

Qualifying for CHIP isn't as stringent. In Iowa, the state raised the CHIP ceiling this year to 300 percent of the federal poverty level, or $54,930 for a family of three. Nebraska raised its income ceiling for CHIP from 185 percent this year to 200 percent, or $36,620 for a family of three.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services has estimated there may be close to 15,000 eligible children who aren't enrolled. The Iowa Department of Public Health estimated there could be as many as 38,000 children who aren't covered.