Enrollment in the state child health insurance program: A conceptual framework for evaluation and continuous quality improvement

Children's enrollment in the State Child Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) i s a key indicator of program impact. Past studies demonstrate that many chi ldren eligible for Medicaid or for private employer-based insurance remain uninsured, indicating that eligibility does not guarantee either enrollment or access to medical care. Important features of SCHIP evaluation include not only eligibility thresholds and enrollment volume, but also program ret ention, transitions in coverage, and access to medical care. Focusing on SC HIP features that affect children's participation and continuity of coverag e would allow states to continually improve procedures that affect enrollme nt. An exploration of federal and state policy options suggests several app roaches for creating evaluation strategies that can stimulate ongoing impro vement.