WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congressman Sanford Bishop, a Member of the House Appropriations Committee, announced that the proposed Supplemental Appropriations bill includes the necessary funds to cover nationwide shortfalls estimated to be $750 million in the State Children,s Health Insurance Plan (SCHIP).   Georgia,s PeachCare for Kids, the state version of the federal SCHIP program which is the health insurance plan that covers low- and middle-income children, is expected to have a shortfall this year of $131 million.

Since the beginning of the 110th Congress, Congressman Bishop has worked closely with Speaker Pelosi and the Democratic Leadership to provide the additional funds to cover the shortfall in the SCHIP program in 13 additional states and PeachCare. His initial request came in January after a bi-partisan delegation from Georgia attended a meeting arranged by Congressman Bishop.  

PeachCare has been in such financial distress that the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) announced it would have to stop accepting enrollees as of March 11, 2007.   By including funding for SCHIP in the Supplemental Appropriations bill, the Georgia DCH should be able to continue to operate the PeachCare program in its original form.

An important stipulation remains, however.   While funding secured through the Supplemental Appropriations bill shores up PeachCare through the end of FY 2007, the State of Georgia will most likely have to provide the "bridge funding" - that is, from now until the approval of the federal funds.

"I am very pleased that the Democratic Leadership heard my concerns about the PeachCare funding shortfall and accepted my recommendations.   I now urge Governor Perdue and the Georgia State Legislature to do all that they can to ensure that low-income children continue to be covered by this vital health care program," said Congressman Bishop.   "Over the past two months, I have heard from countless families and children,s advocates extolling the importance of PeachCare. Thousands of Georgia children, as well as many others in thirteen additional states across the nation, will be able to continue to receive the health care that they deserve.   Along with the other Members from the affected states, I am grateful that Speaker Pelosi, the Democratic Leadership, and my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee have included the proposed language in the Supplemental Appropriations bill."

In Georgia, PeachCare currently serves approximately 273,000 children from low- and middle- income families.   Without continued federal support, the State of Georgia could be forced to reduce the number of participants in the program. The situation recently reached crisis levels as Georgia,s Department of Community Health announced that the $131 million shortfall would cause them to run out of funding by early spring.

The House Appropriations Committee is expected to consider the FY 2007 Supplemental Appropriations bill on Thursday, March 15, 2007.   The full House of Representatives will likely consider the legislation next week.