BEREA, KY--(MARKET WIRE)--Sep 3, 2008 -- Save the Children strongly supports Governor Beshear's proposed plan to streamline the Kentucky Children's Health Insurance Program -- often referred to as "K-CHIP" -- to ensure poor children receive important health services. By removing barriers to access, more children eligible but not currently receiving health coverage would be insured.

"Save the Children greatly appreciates Governor Beshear's leadership on this very important issue of children's health," said Mark Shriver, Managing Director of Save the Children United States Programs. "Save the Children provides programs to support poor children living in rural eastern Kentucky. Governor Beshear's proposal will provide health care access to these very same children which will help them tremendously."

K-CHIP provides medical coverage for those children who do not qualify for Medicaid and whose family income does not exceed 200% of the Federal Poverty Line. Medical services covered include health, dental, vision, and hearing coverage, child care and other special services.

Governor Beshear's proposal would increase the number of poor children currently enrolled in K-CHIP by increasing the program's outreach and retention efforts, simplifying the application process, and beefing up implementation. As a whole, Beshear's proposal will make it easier for children to receive health care at a reasonable cost to the state. The proposed changes will be implemented starting November 1, 2008.

"The Beshear plan focuses on reducing barriers to health care access, ensuring more children who are eligible can tap benefits," said Shriver. "Reforming this existing government program to work more efficiently is a clear win for Kentucky's children."

Save the Children is the leading independent organization creating real and lasting change for children in need in the United States and around the world. Save the Children's local Kentucky programs are located in the Appalachian region, providing childhood development, literacy, physical activity, and nutrition programming.

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