House Passes Several Bills
H.B. 884 by Dave Belton (R-Buckhead) that would revise provisions related to licensure by endorsement for military spouses. MAG is watching this legislation.
H.B. 911 by Rep. David Ralston, which is the appropriations legislation for Fiscal Year 2023.
H.B. 1013 by Rep. David Ralston, which is an omnibus mental health bill that includes mental health parity. MAG supports this bill.
H.B. 1069 by Rep. Bruce Williamson (R-Monroe) would license adult residential mental health programs. MAG supports this legislation.
H.B. 1279 by Rep. Matt Gambill (R-Cartersville) that would allow persons with a chronic disease or over 65 years of age to carry prescription medications in a compartmentalized medication container with the capacity to hold up to a 21-day supply of such prescription medications. MAG is watching this legislation.
H.B. 1304 by Rep. Lee Hawkins would require that hospitals provide patients the opportunity to identify a lay caregiver to provide aftercare assistance to the patient in the event the patient is discharged from the hospital. MAG is neutral on this legislation.
H.B. 1351 by Rep. David Knight (R-Griffin) and would require that the Department of Community Health provide the pharmacy benefits for care management organization's enrolled members and prohibit care management organizations from providing pharmacy benefits for their enrolled members. MAG is neutral on this legislation.
H.B. 1371 by Rep. Rick Jasperse (R-Jasper) that would create the Rural Health Advancement Commission. MAG is watching this legislation.
Senate Does Not Pass S.B. 203
The Senate did not pass S.B. 203 by Sen. Steve Gooch (R-Dahlonega) that would create an exemption to the hands-free cell phone legislation for a vehicle which is at a full and complete stop at a traffic light if the cell phone is secured within a stand or mount. MAG opposed this language.
Committee Activity
The House HHS Committee passed two bills. H.B. 1449 by Rep. Darlene Taylor (R-Thomasville) that would require the Department of Community Health to contract directly with dental care administrators to cover dental services for recipients of medical assistance under Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids programs. MAG is watching this legislation. H.B. 1484 Rep. Lee Hawkins (R-Gainesville) would create a three-year pilot program to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infection (PANDAS) and pediatric acute onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS) under the Medicaid program. MAG supports this legislation.
The House HHS Committee also held a hearing on two issues. First, the issues with the implementation of the Georgia surprise billing law were discussed with several physicians providing their experiences. MAG continues to work with the Department of Insurance to address issues as they arise – please contact Bethany Sherrer at bsherrer@mag.org if you have questions or concerns. The Committee also heard testimony on H.B. 731 by Rep. J Collins (R-Villa Rica) that would require hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to utilize surgical smoke evacuation systems during surgical procedures. MAG opposes this legislation.
The House Committee on Access to Quality Health Care passed three bills. H.B. 1533 by Rep. Mark Newton, M.D. (R-Augusta) that would provide confidentiality protections to participants in a wellness program for health care workers that would be hosted by MAG. MAG supports this legislation. H.B. 1519 by Rep. David Knight (R-Griffin) and would prohibit insurers from unilaterally changing network participation contracts impacting coverage, access to, or costs of ancillary services. MAG supports this legislation H.B. 1547 that would provide for the delayed repeal of certificate of need requirements and transfer charity and indigent care requirements from certificate of need requirements to licensure requirements. MAG is evaluating this legislation.
The House Human Relations & Aging Committee passed H.B. 1520 by Rep. Lee Hawkins (R-Gainesville) that would create the Georgia Council on Addressing Health Care Workforce Challenges. This 26-person council would include a “representative from a state-wide association representing physicians.” MAG supports this legislation.
The Senate Insurance & Labor Committee passed two bills that MAG supports. S.B. 487 by Sen. Sheila McNeill (R-Brunswick) would require that diagnostic breast examinations not be treated less favorably than screening mammography for breast cancer with respect to cost-sharing requirements. S.B. 566 by Sen. Dean Burke, M.D. (R-Bainbridge) would clarify that, under the Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act, a medical or traumatic condition, sickness, or injury includes a mental health condition or substance use disorder and that emergency medical services include post-stabilization services.
The Senate HHS Committee three bills and one resolution. S.B. 539 by Sen. Bo Hatchett (R-Cornelia) was amended to only prohibit filming in a public health department without the consent of all patients. MAG is watching this legislation. S.B. 573 by Sen. Matt Brass (R-Newnan) would require hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to adopt a policy for the reduction of human exposure to surgical smoke. MAG is neutral on the current language. S.B. 609 by Sen. Jeff Mullis (R-Chickamauga) would allow the six pending licenses for Low THC production to be issued while opening up the RFP process again and setting up a queue system whereby one Class 1 license and one Class 2 license per 50,000 patients added to the registry. MAG is reviewing this legislation. S.R. 584 by Sen. Kim Jackson (D-Stone Mountain) would recognize May 4, 2022, as Maternal Mental Health Day at the capitol. MAG supports this resolution.
