Much has changed since the 2019 State of Children's Health Coverage Report. Over the past five years, we have made significant strides at the local and federal health policy levels shaping access to healthcare for children in our state.
The journey has been up and down, from the pandemic's unprecedented challenges to Medicaid's unwinding. Yet, we've remained inspired by the work that can be done when community members, state leaders, and organizations come together to advocate for and implement policies that prioritize children's health and well-being.
Our new publication provides a detailed overview of these developments and highlights our organization's efforts to ensure all children in Utah have access to healthcare coverage and care so they can grow, thrive, and reach their full potential.
Our publication covers:
- Utah Children's Access to Healthcare Coverage: We examine current challenges and barriers, along with the factors influencing access to care.
- Efforts to Expand Coverage: We share initiatives and community events we have co-hosted to increase Medicaid and CHIP enrollment.
- Policy Landscape: We explore changes in Utah's healthcare policies from 2019-2014 and the impacts of these policies on Utah children and families.
We are thankful to our partners, fellow advocates, and community, who have all played a crucial role in this journey and remain committed to making Utah a state that is good for ALL kids.
The Journey Ahead
Over the next year and beyond, we remain committed to achieving health coverage for all Utah kids. Despite ongoing attacks on the Medicaid program, we remain steadfast in safeguarding its integrity and accessibility for all Utahns. Our goals include expanding access to coverage through strategic investment, enhancement, and simplification of the Medicaid and CHIP programs.
- Invest: Invest in the community-based organizations that are best positioned to assist with Medicaid and CHIP enrollment and renewals by easing the complicated processes for eligible community members. The investment must include funding for targeted outreach and education in geographic areas with high rates of uninsured children.
- Enhance: Enhance language access by establishing translation and interpretation standards for the Departments of Health and Human Services and the Department of Workforce Services, focused on Utah's top ten most common non-English languages.
- Simplify: Reduce burdens and barriers to family application and renewal procedures by implementing substantive changes to the state’s system for approving new applications and renewals, such as adopting the ex-parte renewal process utilized during the Medicaid “unwinding” for ongoing use.
Since 2019, the journey has been both challenging and rewarding. We celebrate our achievements and remain committed to creating a bold path forward for children's health coverage in Utah. We are excited about the opportunities that the next five years will bring and invite you to join the journey by committing to ensuring all children have access to coverage.
