TANF-ACF-PI-2005-04 (FY 2004 TANF High Performance Bonus (HPB) Measures Related to Participation in the Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP))

Publication Date: June 9, 2005
Current as of:

To:

State Agencies Administering the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program and Other Interested Parties

Subject:

FY 2004 TANF High Performance Bonus (HPB) Measures Related to Participation in the Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)

References:

TANF-ACF-PI-01-04, TANF-ACF-PI-2004-01

Purpose:

The purpose of this program memorandum is to provide State agencies with (a) new electronic reporting requirements for the Medicaid and SCHIP measures and (b) quarterly submission dates for transmitting monthly files of adult TANF recipients necessary to compute HPB scores, if the State wishes to compete on this HPB measure.

Background:

Section 403(a)(4) of the Social Security Act made $1 billion available over a five-year period to reward bonuses to high performing States in meeting the purposes of the TANF Program.  This period ended September 30, 2003.  The TANF program has not yet been reauthorized by Congress.  Current operation of the TANF program is based on a continuing funding resolution (P.L.108-210) which expired June 30, 2005.

While we continue to be optimistic that Congress will authorize the TANF program this year, we believe that it is prudent to advise States to collect and report necessary performance data in order to compete for HPB awards that may be available if reauthorization does not happen this year.  According to Section 270.11, each State must submit a list of the measures they wish to compete for bonuses (attached).  Therefore, if a State wishes to compete for any HPB performance bonus award in FY 2005 bonus year (i.e. in FY 2004 performance year) it must complete a copy of the attached form by checking the measures it wishes to compete in.

Action:

States competing for bonuses must use the new automated system on the internet.  Because the contents of the database can be viewed on line, no e-mail confirmation of the submitted data will be transmitted to the States.  Therefore, participants transmitting Medicaid HPB data will need a “user id” to access the system.  This can be obtained by sending an e-mail to the TANF support system at TDRS.admin@acf.hhs.gov

The internet address (URL) for connecting to the new ACF site .

Several States have previously submitted HPB performance data for the FY 2005 Medicaid/SCHIP HPB measures.  We have retained these data and will use them as the States’ submittal to compete for the FY 2005 Medicaid /SCHIP bonuses.  A State may submit revised data, provided these changes are submitted through the revised transmission system by the submission dates specified below.

If a State did not submit FY 2003 Medicaid/SCHIP data to compete for the FY 2004 performance awards, but now wishes to compete for both the performance and the improvement awards, FY 2003 and 2004 Medicaid/SCHIP performance data must be submitted.

Submission Dates:

Each State competing for FY 2005 Medicaid and SCHIP bonus awards based on FY 2004 HPB performance quarters must submit data as follows:

  • Quarter 1 (Oct. - Dec. 2003) June 30, 2005
  • Quarter 2 (Jan. - Mar. 2004) June 30, 2005
  • Quarter 3 (Apr. - Jun. 2004) July 15, 2005
  • Quarter 4 (July - Sept. 2004) July 31, 2005

Effective Dates:

Immediately

Inquiries:

Inquiries should be directed to the appropriate Regional Administrator.

/s/

Grant E. Collins II
Acting Director
Office of Family Assistance