MADISON, Wis. -- The nation's top health official is praising a new Wisconsin program that makes all children eligible for health insurance.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt said that the BadgerCare Plus program is exactly the kind of state-based solution to problems that he favors.

He said that he might have designed the program differently if he was the governor, but he credits state officials for making progress in reducing the number of uninsured.

The program went into effect Friday. It allows parents to purchase health insurance for children for monthly premiums that range from $10 to $90 based on income.

Leavitt made the remarks during a visit to a Madison hospital.

The program is also available to self-employed parents, farmers and pregnant women. For more information about the program and how to sign up, people can visit BadgerCarePlus.org.

Leavitt also encouraged the state to be part of an electronic medical records pilot program that seeks to get patients easy online access to their records and doctors.

"Wisconsin is at the center of a movement nationally to be able to put electronic medical records into place (and) give people information about the quality and the cost of their health care, making it more convenient for them," Leavitt said.

Leavitt said Wisconsin is a leader thanks to companies like Epic, based in Verona, that provide software for online medical records.

Hospitals and clinics like Dean Health Care and St. Mary's Hospital are set to utilize the technology beginning May 31.