Government
Encouraging high-risk health insurance pools
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted April 19, 2004
Legislation recently introduced in the Senate would expand on a federal grant program designed to encourage states to set up their own health insurance pools for "uninsurable" residents, those with chronic diseases and other costly preexisting conditions. The State High Risk Pool Funding Extension Act would increase annual funding from $40 million to $75 million from fiscal year 2005 to 2009. That money would be available to help states that are already operating high-risk pools.
The bill would also add $15 million in seed money for states starting pools this year or next. Currently 31 states have high-risk pools that qualify under federal definitions.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/04/19/gvbf0419.htm.
