Enrollment Freeze for PeachCare for Kids Lifted
The PeachCare for Kids program will now serve 295,000 children
ATLANTA – On July 12th, 2007, at the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) Board meeting, the Board of Community Health lifted the March 2007 PeachCare for Kids TM enrollment freeze. Effective immediately, new applications will be processed and the program can serve up to 295,000 children under a new enrollment cap.
Pending applications and reinstatements will become active and added to enrollment as payment is received. Coverage will begin retroactively to July 1, 2007.
The enrollment limit has been defined by DCH to ensure the shortfall funding and redistribution of the 2004 - 2005 national surplus adequately supports the ongoing provision of health care to current and new members through September 30, 2007.
The PeachCare for Kids TM program is a jointly funded state and federal insurance program for low-income children. On March 11, 2007, DCH discontinued new enrollment in the program due to lack of federal funding. In May 2007, President George W. Bush signed a Fiscal Year 2007 supplemental appropriations bill that included funding for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP). Congress approved the legislation that appropriated $650 million for states with S-CHIP shortfalls. Georgia will receive approximately $121,304,715.
If Congress does not pass legislation that reauthorizes S-CHIP to continue after September 30, 2007, S-CHIP programs nationwide, including Georgia’s PeachCare for Kids TM, will no longer exist. Reauthorization legislation, correction of the current flawed federal funding formula, and adequate funding is required to continue PeachCare for Kids TM beyond October 1, 2007. The enrollment limit will be reassessed based on availability of funding once S-CHIP is reauthorized or otherwise extended by Congress.
To apply for PeachCare for Kids, one can either visit http://www.peachcare.org or call 1-877-GAPEACH (1-877-427-3224).
About the Department of Community Health
The Georgia Department of Community Health champions:
- ACCESS to affordable, quality health care in our communities
- RESPONSIBLE health planning and use of health care resources
- HEALTHY behaviors and improved health outcomes