Clinton order has little effect on Nevada Medicaid plan

Wednesday, Dec. 31, 1997 | 9:10 a.m.

Clinton, upset with poor showings in states' enrollment figures last year, says children who qualify for Medicaid be signed up immediately.

Nevada is investigating ways to insure 20,000 low-income children under a "Nevada Check Up" program proposed by Gov. Bob Miller. It would be funded with $7 million in unused state Medicaid funds, matched by $13 million in federal money.

According to state welfare chief Myla Florence, children who qualify for Medicaid are identified only when they go to the Welfare Division's various district offices for interviews.

Clinton is calling for Medicaid eligibility workers to seek out children who qualify at hospitals, schools, day care centers and clinics. Florence said her office provides outreach material at local hospitals, but children must go to the district offices to fill out applications.

The Welfare Division also is cutting its 17-page application to six pages. The revised forms should be available next month, but won't be mailed out as suggested by the President, Florence said.

Sen. Ray Rawson, R-Las Vegas, heading a legislative committee studying the state's uninsured children problem, said Nevada Check Up would only target youngsters who don't meet Medicaid requirements.

"This really doesn't shake us up," Rawson said. "We know we have to go out and get those kids (insured). I really don't know how to find them."

Chris Thompson, director of the state Division of Health Care Financing and Policy, said Rawson's committee has commissioned a study to determine how many children are eligible.

Rawson estimates that there are between 50,000 and 60,000 children on Medicaid in Nevada to date. No one knows how many more qualify at this time, he said.