SCHIP in Ohio: Evolution and Outlook for the Future

This report presents findings from Mathematica’s study of Ohio’s SCHIP program. The program, which focused on making Medicaid more accessible and consumer friendly, covered nearly 208,000 children in 2003. It has relied on decentralized outreach and eligibility processes managed by counties, an approach credited with promoting highly successful grassroots efforts to enroll children. Nevertheless, advocates and others cited a need for greater consistency in county activities. Access to health care was good overall, although many families lacked dental care. Ohio’s budget constraints threaten all state-supported programs, but observers believe SCHIP will be spared from cuts.