U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Improving the health, safety, and well-being of America
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U.S. Department of Health & Human Services |
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Improving the health, safety, and well-being of America |
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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, June 4, 2001 |
Contact: | HCFA Press Office (202) 690-6145 |
The approval will allow the state to offer SCHIP coverage -- known as PeachCare for Kids -- to families with incomes slightly higher than allowed currently. Under the new plan, children in families with incomes of up to 235 percent of the federal poverty level will be eligible for coverage. This is an increase from the current level of 200 percent of poverty. The FPL is $17,650 for a family of four.
A second change streamlines the state's eligibility renewal process to make it easier for families to remain covered by the program. The state expects additional 24,000 children will be eligible for PeachCare.
Georgia is eligible to receive nearly $135 million in federal funds for fiscal 2001. SCHIP is historic, bipartisan legislation enacted in 1997. The SCHIP law appropriates $24 billion over five years to help states expand health insurance to children whose families earn too much for traditional Medicaid, yet not enough to afford private insurance. Georgia, like all states with SCHIP plans, will receive federal matching funds only for actual expenditures to insure children.
"President Bush and his administration will work closely with states to ensure flexibility at the local level to get health insurance to children who need it," said Thompson. "This is just an example of how the federal government can let states make decisions that make sense for them and their citizens."
SCHIP gives states three options for devising a plan to cover uninsured children: designing a new children's health insurance program; expanding Medicaid programs; or a combination of both strategies. HHS must approve any amendment to a state's SCHIP program. Georgia has created its own separate child health program. The program provides coverage to children from birth through age 18.
"Georgia's decision to widen eligibility and streamline redetermination demonstrates how popular this program is with states and how vital it has proven to be for the families enrolled," said Thompson. "Both states and the Bush administration are enthusiastic about this program to get access to health care to children."
SCHIP plans have been approved for all the states and territories.
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