December 1, 1998

The Burden of Proof

How Much is Too Much for Health Care Coverage?

When families apply for Medicaid coverage for their children, they are warned of fraud penalties and must attest to their knowledge of the consequences of making untruthful statements when they sign the Medicaid application. Families generally are required to provide documentation to prove certain statements made on the application. In bureaucratic terms, such documentation is called “verification.” State have been reluctant to reduce verification requirements due to concerns over quality control, particularly the federal Medicaid Eligibility Quality Control system. In recent years several states have demonstrated that it is possible to maintain eligibility quality control while alleviating some of the verification burdens placed on families. It is hoped that this report will assist states in their efforts to simplify the application and redetermination processes for families seeking health coverage for their children.

Source: Southern Institute on Children and Families

Citation: Shuptrine, Sarah C. and Kristine Hartvigsen. The Burden of Proof: How Much is Too Much for Health Care Coverage? 2nd ed. Columbia, SC: Covering Kids National Program Office, Southern Institute on Children and Families, December 1998.