Over the past decade, there have been multiple expansions of Medicaid access for children. Assessments of the effects these expansions have yielded conflicting results. The S-CHIP program reaches the end of its initially legislated funding in 2006; OMB estimates that enrollment will begin to decline in 2005. In order to contribute to probable debate regarding continuation or evolution of S-CHIP, it is necessary to ascertain whether the program has positively affected rural children, and whether all rural children, including minority children, have benefited equally. To provide perspective, and to distinguish, to the extent possible, between year-to-year fluctuations and long term trends, trends in health insurance coverage and health services utilization among rural children will be analyzed. Data will be drawn from the National Health Interview Survey, 1980 through 2001.

Publications

• Trends in Uninsurance Among Rural Minority Children
  Rural and Minority Health Research Center
  Date: 10/2005
  Using 21 years of data from the National Health Interview Survey to explore trends in health insurance and health services utilization for children between 1980 and 2001, the authors found that rural children have been consistently less likely to have insurance than urban children, and minority status adds to the disparity.
• Trends in Uninsurance Among Rural Minority Children (Fact Sheet)
  Fact Sheet
  Rural and Minority Health Research Center
  Date: 2005
  This fact sheet describes childhood disparities found in health insurance, healthcare utilization, and factors related to acquiring health insurance.