The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has awarded the state of New Jersey a $4.2 million performance bonus for its efforts to decrease the number of uninsured children in the state.

The award recognizes enrollment growth in NJ FamilyCare, the state’s Children’s Health Insurance Program for low-income families, which currently covers more than 614,000 children. The program provides free or low-cost coverage for income-eligible families through state and federal funding.

New Jersey has implemented programs such as its “Express Lane” program, tracking and enrolling children in FamilyCare through state tax forms, as means to decrease the number of uninsured children in the state.

Jon S. Corzine

“Access to health insurance for children has been a touchstone of my administration,” Gov. Jon S. Corzine said in a statement. “This bonus is a much appreciated honor for our state and a testament to the commitment we’ve exercised in insuring more than 100,000 new children over four years.”

New Jersey Department of Human Services Commissioner Jennifer Velez added that her agency “has been working incredibly hard to find and insure eligible children using innovative programs, including presumptive eligibility in hospitals and clinics, and school-based outreach facilitators.

“This award proves that, while there are many children still in need of health care coverage, New Jersey is making great headway,” Velez said.

The funding comes through the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) of 2009. New Jersey exceeded CMS’ minimum requirements by increasing accessibility to children’s enrollment in program areas including continuous 12-month eligibility, eliminating in-person interview at application and renewal and instituting automatic verification at renewal.

The state also achieved a 4.2% enrollment increase above baseline enrollment for federal fiscal year 2009, which ended Sept. 30.

New Jersey joined Alabama, Alaska, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington as the only states to receive the bonus federal funding, which totaled $72 million for all nine states.

“We’re happy to reward states that have taken important steps to help insure more children and made a real difference in the lives of families across the country,” said U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius in a statement. “These awards will provide crucial support and help states continue to serve children and families.”