South Carolina has been awarded a performance bonus of $2,429,232 for improving access to children’s health coverage and enrolling more eligible children in Medicaid services.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced the award Wednesday. South Carolina was one of 23 states to earn the bonuses, totaling $306 million.

South Carolina earned a bonus of $2,712,649 last year for the same sort of progress. South Carolina increased enrollment by using food stamp data to help identify candidates, since any child in a family eligible for food stamps is also eligible for Medicaid.

“States are ensuring more children get the health care they need,” said Marilyn Tavenner, acting administrator of the centers.

-- Joey Holleman