House Passes Psychiatric Advance Directive (PAD) Legislation
The House passed the Psychiatric Advance Directive (PAD) legislation (H.B. 752) by Rep. Sharon Cooper (R-Marietta). This legislation would allow patients with mental illness to make their preferences in relation to mental health care known and designate a health care agent for mental health care decisions. MAG supports this legislation, which now goes to the Senate.
The House also passed H.B. 867 by Rep. Mark Newton, M.D. (R-Augusta), which would require pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and insurers to disclose to patients the final true net cost for a prescription drug, less all rebates actually received by the pharmacy benefits manager or its health plan client subsequent to the point of sale and base the patient’s cost-sharing on the final true net cost. MAG will continue to work with the author to ensure this legislation provides the best possible protections for patients. This bill now heads to the Senate.
Key Bills Passed by Committees
The House Regulated Industries Committee passed H.B. 430 by Rep. Alan Powell (R-Hartwell), which updates the nurse licensure code and allows APRNs and PAs to fill out documentation for a patient to apply for license plates and parking permits for persons with disabilities. MAG is neutral on this legislation, which now goes to the House Rules Committee.
The Senate Insurance and Labor Committee passed two bills by Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick, M.D. (R-Marietta) – S.B. 341 and S.B. 342. S.B. 341 would provide guidelines for the prior authorization of a prescribed medication for chronic conditions requiring ongoing medication therapy under certain circumstances. S.B. 342 would provide for annual reporting regarding mental health parity in health care plans. MAG supports both bills, which now go to the Senate Rules Committee.
The Senate Health & Human Services Committee passed two bills. First, S.B. 338 by Sen. Dean Burke, M.D. (R-Bainbridge), which would increase postpartum coverage under Medicaid from six months to one year following birth. MAG supports this legislation. Second, S.B. 340 by Sen. Kirkpatrick, M.D., which updates provisions related to funding of medical education provided by hospital authorities and designated teaching hospitals. MAG is neutral on this legislation. Both bills now go to the Senate Rules Committee.
The Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee passed S.B. 352 which would allow for licensure by endorsement for certain licenses to spouses of firefighters, health care providers, and law enforcement officers who relocate to the State of Georgia. MAG is watching this legislation, which now goes to the Senate Rules Committee.
Key Bills Introduced
H.B. 1065 was introduced by Rep. Marvin Lim (D-Norcross) and would revise procedures regarding emergency involuntary treatment for mental health and alcohol and drug dependency including requiring examination for involuntary treatment for mental health or alcohol and drug dependency by a physician within eight hours of admission. MAG is reviewing this legislation, which was assigned to the House Health & Human Services Committee.
H.B. 1069 was introduced by Rep. Bruce Williamson (R-Monroe) and seeks to license adult mental health programs. MAG is neutral on this legislation, which was referred to the House Health & Human Services Committee.
Rep. Katie Dempsey (R-Rome) introduced HB 1086, which would lower the age to 50 years old for hospitals to offer inpatients vaccinations for the influenza virus prior to discharge. MAG supports this legislation, which was assigned to the House Health & Human Services Committee.
H.B. 1092 was introduced by Rep. Sharon Cooper (R-Marietta) and would require that women who have been arrested are offered pregnancy testing upon detention and would also provide deferment of confinement for pregnant women unless the woman poses a significant threat or danger to any person. MAG is reviewing this legislation, which was assigned to the House Health & Human Services Committee.
Rep. Penny Houston (R-Nashville) introduced H.B. 1186 related to speech-language pathologists and audiologists. This bill would change the age of initial identification of communication disorders from under three months to birth to 22 years of age. Additionally, it would require speech-language pathologists and audiologists to comply with notifiable disease reporting requirements set by DPH. MAG is reviewing this legislation, which was referred to the House Health & Human Services Committee.
H.B. 1192 was introduced by Rep. Cooper and would require the Department of Community Health to submit a Section 1115 waiver request to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for a demonstration project to provide treatment services under Medicaid to persons in this state living with HIV. MAG supports this legislation, which was assigned to the House Health & Human Services Committee.
Rep. Shelly Hutchinson (D-Snellville) introduced H.R. 651 that would create the House Study Committee on Evaluating, Simplifying, and Eliminating Duplication of Regulatory Requirements for Mental Health and Social Services Providers. MAG is neutral on this legislation, which was assigned to the House Health & Human Services Committee.
Rep. Kim Schofield (D-Atlanta) introduced H.R. 652 that would encourage the Georgia Department of Public Health and the Georgia Department of Community Health to improve the quality of care for those with HIV on the State of Georgia's Medicaid program. MAG is neutral on this legislation, which was referred to the House Health & Human Services Committee.
S.B. 403, "Georgia Behavioral Health and Peace Officer Co-Responder Act," was introduced by Sen. Ben Watson, M.D. This legislation would pair mental health professionals with law enforcement to respond to certain calls that may benefit from the training of the mental health professional. MAG supports this legislation, which has been assigned to the Senate Health & Human Services Committee.
The Senate Public Safety Committee heard testimony on S.B. 356 by Sen. Frank Ginn (R-Danielsville). This legislation would provide an exemption to Georgia’s hands-free law for drivers who are at a complete stop. The committee did not take any action so the bill, which MAG opposes, remains there.
