Top state leaders urged the U.S. Department of Human Services chief on Friday to back off of new federal rules for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, saying the new standards for program expansions are too restrictive.

Gov. Strickland and Senator Sherrod Brown asked HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt to revoke the guidance document sent to states late last week.

Among other things, the new rules require that states show at least 95% enrollment for eligible children in families below 200% of the federal poverty level before they can expand coverage beyond 250% of poverty. No state currently reaches that threshold.

Brown and Strickland said in a letter (Brown Strickland Letter) to Leavitt that the guidance document “contravenes the fundamental objectives underlying SCHIP and may overstep your department’s authority.”

The Department of Job and Family Services said this week it is seeking guidance on whether the new edict impacts SCHIP-related expansion plans enacted with the state budget (HB 119 ). Those plans could entail Medicaid spending, but the agency said it is unclear if the new restrictions extend to the entitlement.