The Center for Children and Families today released the report “Weathering the Storm: States Moving Forward Despite Tough Economic Climate,” the first evaluation of CHIPRA implementation. “Weathering the Storm” finds that despite the tough fiscal climate in the states, 23 states moved forward in covering children this year. By taking advantage of the passing of the Children’s Health Insurance Reauthorization Act and other federal support, states moved forward by expanding eligibility for their Medicaid and CHIP programs or made it easier for uninsured children already eligible to enroll and stay enrolled.

Wisconsin is among those 23 states, having made two small but important changes in BadgerCare Plus: (1) expanding express enrollment, and (2) applying automatic enrollment to all infants whose births were covered by Medicaid or CHIP (including BadgerCare Plus Prenatal). Nevertheless, there is still room for improvement. WCCF’s checklist of CHIPRA options outlines additional ways that Wisconsin can make progress toward the goal of quality health care for all children in the state.

The new report is well worth reviewing for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the gorgeous color palette in the photos of kids.