In testimony before the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care, CMS director Dennis Smith said that it is likely 9 states are eligible to expand SCHIP coverage to higher income families. Last year the Bush Administration put in place rules that prevented states from expanding coverage to families over 250% of the federal poverty level (FPL) until those states covered 95% of eligible children under 200% of the FPL.

Given that many states only cover around 70% of eligible children, this seemed like a difficult goal to reach. Senators at the hearing expressed their disbelief that states could reach this goal, and there does not seem to be any indication in Smith's written testimony about this. But if it is true, then it seems that some states will have the green light to begin their "universal health care for children" initiatives.