Peachcare accepts new applications

State officials once again are allowing working-class families to sign up their children for the Peachcare health program.

The state board of community health voted unanimously today to lift the enrollment freeze that had been in place since March, when Peachcare appeared to be running out of money.

There's one catch: officials are limiting the program to 295,000 children. That leaves just 25,000 slots open. Most of those spaces will go to families already on Peachcare's waiting list.

"We certainly hope very soon to see Peachcare re-open for all eligible children," says consumer health advocate Linda Lowe of Families First.

State health officials say they will re-evaluate the cap after Congress reauthorizes the federal program, known as S-CHIP. Republicans and Democrats on the U.S. Senate Finance Committee tentatively have agreed to increase funds for S-CHIP by $35 billion over five years. The new money would come from increased taxes on tobacco products.

Peachcare set to open its doors in July

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.