Medical Support Update: The Federal Scene

Publication Date: July 2005

Publisher: Center for Law and Social Policy

Author(s): Paula Roberts

Research Area:

Type: Brief

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

In 1998, Congress enacted the Child Support Performance and Incentive Act (CSPIA). One outgrowth of CSPIA, the Medical Child Support Working Group (MCSWG), made nearly 80 recommendations for change in law, policy, and practice to improve the chances that children served by the child support enforcement program would obtain adequate, accessible, and affordable health care coverage. During the past 18 months, some progress has been made at the federal level to move forward on this agenda. This memo describes some of these recent developments.