The Georgia Department of Community Health plans to allow families to enroll in Peachcare again, starting next month. But, officials want to cap the number of children the program will serve at 295,000.
The decision would open up about 20,000 spots. Already 16,000 children are on the waiting list.
"This is a step in the right direction," says consumer health advocate Linda Lowe of the nonprofit Families First. "We need to move to the point where the enrollment is re-opened for good."
The state froze enrollment in March. Officials feared Peachcare was running out of money.
Since then, the state and federal government have solved the immediate crisis with emergency funds. But Congress probably will not re-authorize the program until this fall. State officials say they will consider lifting the enrollment cap after Congress acts.
The board of community health will vote officially on lifting the enrollment freeze on July 12. Officials have scheduled a public hearing on June 27.
The decision would open up about 20,000 spots. Already 16,000 children are on the waiting list.
"This is a step in the right direction," says consumer health advocate Linda Lowe of the nonprofit Families First. "We need to move to the point where the enrollment is re-opened for good."
The state froze enrollment in March. Officials feared Peachcare was running out of money.
Since then, the state and federal government have solved the immediate crisis with emergency funds. But Congress probably will not re-authorize the program until this fall. State officials say they will consider lifting the enrollment cap after Congress acts.
The board of community health will vote officially on lifting the enrollment freeze on July 12. Officials have scheduled a public hearing on June 27.
