Governor Perdue Urges Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids Members to Enroll in Georgia Healthy Families

Governor Perdue Urges Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids Members to Enroll in Georgia Healthy Families

New Program Provides Members’ Choice of Health Care Plans

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue today encouraged members of Georgia’s Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids programs to enroll in Georgia Healthy Families, the state’s new program to deliver health care services through partnerships with private care management organizations (CMOs). At a press conference at Grady Memorial Hospital with Department of Community Health (DCH) Commissioner Dr. Rhonda Medows and former U.S. Surgeon General and Interim President of Morehouse School of Medicine Dr. David Satcher, Governor Perdue discussed the benefits of the new program and urged enrollment in time for the June 1 implementation in the Atlanta and Central regions of the state.

“Through Georgia Healthy Families, members have more choices when selecting the health care provider that best fits their needs,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “Georgia Healthy Families will give decision-making power and control to plan members, while at the same time stemming the spiraling costs of healthcare in Georgia.”

Launched by Governor Perdue and DCH in July 2005, Georgia Healthy Families gives members a choice of health care plans to meet their individual health care needs. By partnering with CMOs throughout Georgia, DCH will provide routine medical care, enhanced education and prevention programs and flexibility in choosing a health plan and primary care physician (PCP) to 1.2 million members of Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids in Georgia. The state of Georgia is projected to save approximately $80 million under the Georgia Healthy Families initiative in FY07.

Only Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids members are eligible for Georgia Healthy Families and its added enhancements. Members in the Atlanta and Central regions of the state will begin receiving their care through Georgia Healthy Families beginning June 1. The remaining regions in the state will begin implementation on September 1, 2006. Members of Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids who do not choose a provider by the region deadline will be automatically enrolled.

“In these weeks before the program is implemented, we are encouraging all members to call Georgia Healthy Families or visit our Web site to get information on the plans and providers in their region and to make a choice for their care,” said Dr. Rhonda Medows, DCH commissioner. “We encourage our members to make a choice - about their health plan, their health care providers and their medical home.”

Members who have not yet selected their health plan should contact Georgia Healthy Families at 1-888-GA-ENROLL (1-888-423-6765) or visit the Web site at www.gahealthyfamilies.com. Members can also call their DFCS case worker, PeachCare for Kids or call the number on the back of their Medicaid or PeachCare identification card.

In FY2005, Medicaid accounted for 43 percent of all new state revenue. Left unchecked, Medicaid will consume 60 percent of all new state revenue by FY2011.

“The Georgia Healthy Families initiative will bring predictability to Georgia’s health care budget,” said Governor Perdue. “Giving people a choice of private health plans is a more efficient way to deliver quality health care services to Medicaid and PeachCare members.”

The chart below details which counties are covered in each region, the CMOs providing care in each region and the implementation date:

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