AMERIGROUP Chairman and Chief Executive Officer James G. Carlson released the following statement on legislation expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which was signed yesterday by President Barack Obama:

"All of America's children deserve a healthy start in life, and that happens only when they are able to see a family doctor and get the healthcare they need. President Obama and Congress have taken a major step toward achieving this goal by approving legislation that expands the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

"SCHIP ensures that the children of lower-income working families are not denied the right to see a doctor or visit a hospital when they are sick. This not only makes a difference in the lives of our children, but by enabling them to stay healthy it saves money for taxpayers in the long run. Under the legislation signed into law yesterday, SCHIP will now cover 11 million of our nation's young people, up from 7 million. This is both the right thing to do and the smart thing do.

"At AMERIGROUP, we see the human impact of SCHIP every day. We bring healthcare to about 279,000 children enrolled in SCHIP -- about one out of every 25 kids in the program. We know that SCHIP is a lifeline for America's children. And we are pleased that this legislation will enable millions more of them to get the healthy start they deserve."

About AMERIGROUP Corporation

AMERIGROUP Corporation, headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia, improves healthcare access and quality for the financially vulnerable, seniors and people with disabilities by developing innovative managed health services for the public sector. Through its subsidiaries, AMERIGROUP Corporation serves approximately 1.6 million people in Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. For more information, visit amerigroupcorp.

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