CMS Helps States Create High-Risk Pools for Health Care Coverage

WASHINGTON-A new federal program will help some states create high-risk pools to extend health care coverage to people whose health status makes it difficult for them to obtain medical insurance. Under the program, the Centers for Medicare & Medicade Services (CMS) will provide seed grants of up to $1 million to support creation of the programs in 27 states that currently do not have qualified high-risk pools and in the District of Columbia. Typically, such pools are state-created nonprofit associations. The new program was authorized in the Trade Law of 2002, which appropriated $20 million to fund the grants.