What is the Child Watch Visitation Program?

Do all h.ealth care providers participate in the Medicaid program?•No, nor are they required to participate.How do children and families get on Medicaid?Eligibility:• Eligibility depends on having family income that falls within allowable rangesand resources that do not exceed limits set by states.• All children younger than six with net family income at or below 133 percent ofthe federal poverty level ($18,553.50 for a family of four in 1992) are potentiallyentitled to Medicaid.• States have the option to extend Medicaid to some or all children younger thanone with net family incomes at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level, butabove 133 percent ($25,807.50 for a family of four in 1992). Texas and Arkansashave exercised this option.State Residence:• Persons seeking benefits must be residents of the state in which they apply forassistance.• Benefits may not be denied simply because persons have no permanentaddress. States must provide a means that permit homeless applicants to proveresidence and receive benefits, even if they are living in temporary housing orshelters.Lawful presence in the U.S.• To receive Medicaid, a child must be a citizen or lawfully admitted forpermanent U.S. residence. Children who are neither citizens nor lawfully present areentitled to coverage for emergency medical conditions only.• Lawful presence may take two forms: The child may be recognized by theImmigration and Naturalization Service (INS) as ·permanently residing under color oflaw (PRUCOL)." This means that INS is aware that the child is living in the U.S. butdoes not intend to deport the child. Or, a child may be classified as a ·temporary"legal resident, as for example, exists for children who are recipients of "amnesty."Children who are neither citizens, nor PRUCOL, nor temporary lawfully present areconsidered ·undocumented."3Source: The Health of America's Children 1992, et alj Children's Defense Fund, Washington, D.C.43