Perdue signs health care reform law

Governor Sonny Perdue signed House Bill 1234, a comprehensive reform of the way the Department of Community Health contracts with Care Management Organizations (CMOs) and to provide benefits for members of Georgia's Peachcare for Kids and Medicaid programs.

Among the provisions in the bill are requiring CMOs to post contracted-providers names on a website so that members can make informed choices about their physicians of choice. The legislation also addresses the dental network and streamlines the appeals process for providers who submit claims to CMOs.

Shriners hospital could take Georgia children

Governor Sonny Perdue hopes a meeting with Shriners hospital officials can help some Georgia children on the Peach Care rolls.

Shriners officials came to Perdue with the idea to help some of Georgia's needy children get free treatment from a South Carolina hospital in their system. The facility in Greenville has some available capacity to treat children with certain conditions such as orthopedic problems, burns and spinal cord injuries.

Perdue spokesman Bert Brantley says if a deal can be struck, the arrangement could help many children of low-income families in the state's medical insurance programs.

"The real issue is...is there a way we can facilitate really good, positive health care for our children, and if there's a way we can do that and save the state some money as well, then obviously it's a win-win on both sides".

Tuesday's meeting was only an initial step. Fine-point details would first have to be worked out with state health officials before a second conference with Shriners hosptial officials.

Shriners hospitals are funded by private donations, and connected to the fraternal organization.

Peach Care gets emergency funding

Governor Sonny Perdue issued a weekend statement thanking Georgia's congressional delegation for their hard work in getting Peach Care funding secured in Washington. President Bush signed a federal funding bill that includes money for states that are cash-strapped for their children's healthcare programs. More than 280-thousand children are on the Georgia Peach Care rolls--the state now has definite funds for the next few months.