Senate Version of SCHIP Authorizes Grants To Faith-Based Groups

The White House has posted on its website for comment the Senate-approved version of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (SCHIP). It says that this version of the bill is expected to pass the House in the coming week. Section 201 of the bill provides for "grants to eligible entities ... to conduct outreach and enrollment efforts." The section goes on [at Sec. 2113 (f)(1)(F)] to define "eligible entities" as including "a faith-based organization or consortia, to the extent that a grant awarded to such an entity is consistent with the requirements of ... 42 U.S.C. 300x–65 relating to a grant award to nongovernmental entities."