§1397aa — Title 42 The Public Health and Welfare | U.S. Code

Summary

Gives money to States (except for the rural health transformation program in section 1397ee(h)) so they can start and grow health help for uninsured, low-income children. The money is mainly for getting kids health coverage that either meets the federal rules in section 1397cc or is provided through the State’s Medicaid plan (subchapter XIX). A State must send a plan to the Secretary under section 1397ff that explains how the funds will be used and must get that plan approved before it can get payments. The law counts as budget authority before any specific appropriation act and is the federal government’s obligation to pay the amounts in section 1397dd. States cannot get payments for coverage that started before October 1, 1997.

Title 42, §1397aa

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Except with respect to the rural health transformation program established in section 1397ee(h) of this title, the purpose of this subchapter is to provide funds to States to enable them to initiate and expand the provision of child health assistance to uninsured, low-income children in an effective and efficient manner that is coordinated with other sources of health benefits coverage for children. Such assistance shall be provided primarily for obtaining health benefits coverage through—

(1)obtaining coverage that meets the requirements of section 1397cc of this title, or

(2)providing benefits under the State’s medicaid plan under subchapter XIX,

(b)A State is not eligible for payment under subsection (a) or (g) of section 1397ee of this title unless the State has submitted to the Secretary under section 1397ff of this title a plan that—

(1)sets forth how the State intends to use the funds provided under this subchapter to provide child health assistance to needy children consistent with the provisions of this subchapter, and

(2)has been approved under section 1397ff of this title.

(c)This subchapter constitutes budget authority in advance of appropriations Acts and represents the obligation of the Federal Government to provide for the payment to States of amounts provided under section 1397dd of this title.

(d)No State is eligible for payments under section 1397ee of this title for child health assistance for coverage provided for periods beginning before October 1, 1997.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2025—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 119–21, § 71401(b)(1)(A), substituted “Except with respect to the rural health transformation program established in section 1397ee(h) of this title, the purpose” for “The purpose” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 119–21, § 71401(b)(1)(B), inserted “subsection (a) or (g) of” before “section 1397ee of this title” in introductory provisions.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Implementation Pub. L. 119–21, title VII, § 71401(c), July 4, 2025, 139 Stat. 332, provided that: “The Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services shall implement this section, including the

Amendments

made by this section [amending this section and section 1397ee and 1397ff of this title], by program instruction or other forms of program guidance.” References to SCHIP and State Children’s Health Insurance Program Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(6) [title VII, § 704], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–402, which provided that, in official communications concerning this subchapter, the terms “SCHIP” and “State children’s health insurance program” were to be used instead of “CHIP” and “children’s health insurance program”, respectively, was repealed by Pub. L. 111–3, title VI, § 612, Feb. 4, 2009, 123 Stat. 101.

§1397aa Purpose; State Child Health Plans

Summary

Title 42, §1397aa

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Amendments

Citations & Metadata