Child Health Grant

By KRWG News

New Mexico – New Mexico and Colorado will work under a $7.7 million federal grant over five years to improve the quality of health care for low-income children.

The grant from the U.S. Health and Human Services Department will help children enrolled in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program, known as CHIP.

In New Mexico, the proposal focuses medical care for children at the state's 69 school-based health centers approved to bill Medicaid.

The project will integrate the health centers into the medical home approach used in New Mexico and Colorado. That's based on the relationship between the patient and provider to improve patient health.

It also will improve screening, preventive services, managing chronic conditions, educating teens to become more involved in their health care and follow up with primary providers.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.