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THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014
Vol. CXXIV, No. 1
OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE CITY OF TACOMA Devoted to the Courts, Real Estate, Finance, Industrial Activities, and Publication of Legal Notices
Published Published Since Since 1890 1890
Wash. awarded nearly $8M bonus for children's health insurance enrollment
Photo Courtesy Washington State Health Care Authority Washington State has been awarded $7.844 million by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in a bonus that recognizes the state's efforts to identify and enroll eligible children in Medicaid coverage. In total, CMS has awarded over $307 million in performance bonuses to 23 states by the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Act of 2009. Washington has received the enrollment-based bonus for all five years of the program. Washington was one of 15 states that produced enrollment increases of more than 10 percent above their base"This award continlines, earning a larger ues to recognize the award. This is the final great work by many year of the program. partners in Washington To qualify for a perforState in improving acmance bonus, states had cess to children's health to implement at least five coverage and successout of eight specific profully enrolling chilgram features aimed at streamlining their enroll- dren into the Medicaid program," said Washment and renewal proceington State Health dures to improve chilCare Authority Director dren's health coverage MaryAnne Lindeblad, programs and increase director of Medicaid. children's enrollment in "Our Apple Health for Medicaid above a baseKids program connects line level for the fiscal children to health care, year. and this bonus acknowl"This award continues edges the importance of to recognize the great coverage to improve the work by many partners health of Washington's in Washington State in children." improving access to children's health coverage and successfully enrolling children into the Medicaid program," said Washington State Health Care Authority Director MaryAnne Lindeblad, director of Medicaid. "Our Apple Health for Kids program connects children to health care, and this bonus acknowledges the importance of coverage to improve the health of
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Auditor's office opens early for Seahawks, Sounders license plate sales Posted online Tues., Dec. 31 Images Courtesy Washington State Department of Licensing The Pierce County Auditor's Office will open at 7 a.m. on Thurs., Jan. 2, to kick off the team license plate sales featuring Seahawks and Sounder FC themes. The license plates will carry an iconic symbol for each team – the 12th Man flag for the Seahawks, a team scarf for Sounders FC. Net proceeds from Seahawks plate sales will go to InvestED, a Seattle-based nonprofit that partners with schools statewide to help students from low-income families pay for clothes, shoes, school activity cards, testing fees and other student needs. The bulk of the proceeds from Sounders FC plate sales will benefit Washington State Mentors, a public/private partnership based in Issaquah that provides grants and assistance to youth organizations across the state. A third non-profit, the Association of Washington Generals, is to receive a smaller portion of the Sounders FC plate sales. The Association of Washington Generals recognizes outstanding individuals and promotes a variety of civic and veterans causes. Neither of the teams profit from the sale of the specialty plates. You can purchase special license plates by completing a special license plate application available on the Washington State Department of Licensing Web site. You may either mail the completed form with a check or money order to the Department of Licensing headquarters office in Olympia, or bring it to your local vehicle licensing office. You cannot purchase special license plates online. Washington's children." Studies show that enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP has been driving the nation's steady progress on increasing the number of children with health insurance coverage. Recent Census data show that uninsurance rates for children declined from 8.6 percent in 2009 to 7.5 percent in 2011. In addition, an analysis by the Urban Institute found that participation rates in Medicaid and CHIP have continued to improve over time. In 2011, 87.2 percent of eligible children were enrolled, a 5.5 percentage point increase from 81.7 percent in 2008.
Sounders FC or Seahawks license plate will each cost $67.75 for passenger vehicles, $49.75 for motorcycles / small trailers, and $55.75 for a large trailer, according to the Department of Licensing Web site. This does not include any sub-agent or renewal fees that may be required. This fee represents the standard Department of Licensing plate fees plus a $40 special license plate fee. Of this $40, $28 goes to the organization’s charity and is tax-deductible. The number of license plates available will depend on the demand. "We just couldn't resist opening the office a little earlier," said Pierce County Auditor Julie Anderson. "We didn't want our regular customers to be caught up in a crush of football fans. And our staff is equally excited. No one is earning overtime for the morning, but I'm letting everyone get decked out in their Seahawks attire." Plates will be sold on a first come, first serve basis. The Auditor's Office accepts cash or checks only. "States are working hard to ensure children get access to the health coverage they need," said CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner. "We are pleased to provide financial support to reward states that are reducing enrollment barriers and are connecting kids to coverage." The 23 states awarded performance bonuses include Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.