Legal Immigrant Children's Health Improvement Act of 2007

The Legal Immigrant Children's Health Improvement Act of 2007 (H.R.1308) was a bill in the 110th Congress "to amend titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act to permit States the option of coverage of legal immigrants under the Medicaid Program and the State children's health insurance program (SCHIP)." (Official title.)

Current status


Bill summary
The Legal Immigrant Children’s Health Improvement Act of 2007 (H.R.1308), commonly referred to as ICHIA, restores health care access for legal immigrant children and pregnant women. In current law, lawfully residing immigrant children and pregnant women who have entered the U.S. since August 22, 1996 are barred from Medicaid and SCHIP for five years. ICHIA eliminates the five-year waiting period and will provide states with the option of extending health services to new legal immigrant children and pregnant women, allowing states to receive federal reimbursement for these costs through Medicaid and SCHIP.