US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

42 U.S.C. § 1397aa

Purpose; State child health plans

(a)

Purpose

section 1397ee(h) of this titleExcept with respect to the rural health transformation program established in , the purpose of this subchapter is to provide funds to States to enable them to initiate and expand the provision of child health assistance to uninsured, low-income children in an effective and efficient manner that is coordinated with other sources of health benefits coverage for children. Such assistance shall be provided primarily for obtaining health benefits coverage through—
(1)
section 1397cc of this title obtaining coverage that meets the requirements of , or
(2)
providing benefits under the State’s medicaid plan under subchapter XIX,
or a combination of both.
(b)

State child health plan required

section 1397ee of this titlesection 1397ff of this titleA State is not eligible for payment under subsection (a) or (g) of unless the State has submitted to the Secretary under a plan that—
(1)
sets forth how the State intends to use the funds provided under this subchapter to provide child health assistance to needy children consistent with the provisions of this subchapter, and
(2)
section 1397ff of this title has been approved under .
(c)

State entitlement

section 1397dd of this titleThis subchapter constitutes budget authority in advance of appropriations Acts and represents the obligation of the Federal Government to provide for the payment to States of amounts provided under .

(d)

Effective date

section 1397ee of this titleNo State is eligible for payments under for child health assistance for coverage provided for periods beginning before .

Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531Pub. L. 105–33, title IV, § 4901(a)111 Stat. 552Pub. L. 119–21, title VII, § 71401(b)(1)139 Stat. 331(, title XXI, § 2101, as added , , ; amended , , .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 119–21, § 71401(b)(1)(A)section 1397ee(h) of this title2025—Subsec. (a). , substituted “Except with respect to the rural health transformation program established in , the purpose” for “The purpose” in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 119–21, § 71401(b)(1)(B)section 1397ee of this titleSubsec. (b). , inserted “subsection (a) or (g) of” before “” in introductory provisions.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Implementation

Pub. L. 119–21, title VII, § 71401(c)139 Stat. 332

“The Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services shall implement this section, including the amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 1397ee and 1397ff of this title], by program instruction or other forms of program guidance.”
, , , provided that:

References to SCHIP and State Children’s Health Insurance Program

Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(6) [title VII, § 704]113 Stat. 1536Pub. L. 111–3, title VI, § 612123 Stat. 101, , , 1501A–402, which provided that, in official communications concerning this subchapter, the terms “SCHIP” and “State children’s health insurance program” were to be used instead of “CHIP” and “children’s health insurance program”, respectively, was repealed by , , .