This Week under the Gold Dome
At 11:18 p.m. last night, the Speaker of the House gaveled “crossover day” to a close, following the Senate’s completion of legislative business earlier in the evening. Now, as we shift into the 11 remaining “post-crossover” legislative days, bills that remain “alive” will begin to move through the opposite chamber’s committee process and potentially to the floor for a vote.
Here is this week’s summary of legislation that passed the House or Senate this week and remain on the table this session:
HB 1339: House Leadership CON legislation
- Introduced by Representative Butch Parrish (R-Swainsboro).
- The bill would create new exemptions to CON, eliminate expenditure thresholds, and make changes to the CON review timeline and process administered by DCH. The bill also extends the Rural Hospital Tax Credit through 2029 and increases the annual cap to $100 million; and establishes a state commission to evaluate Medicaid Expansion and related issues.
- HB 1339 passed off the House floor by a vote of 166-1.
HB 880: Expedited professional licensure for military spouses
- Introduced by Rep. Bethany Ballard (R-Warner Robbins).
- The bill would direct professional licensing boards to adopt rules and regulations facilitating transitioning service members’ qualifications for temporary licenses, licenses by endorsement, or expedited licenses based on their training and experience. The bill outlines conditions under which spouses of service members can practice their occupations or professions in Georgia without obtaining a state license, provided certain criteria are met.
- The bill passed the house by a vote of 168 – 0.
SB 293: DPH authority to appoint public health district directors and CMOs
- Introduced by Senator Ben Watson (R-Savannah).
- The bill reassigns authority to appoint public health district directors from county Boards of Health to the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health (DPH), with the majority approval of members of the county BOH and establishes minimum qualifications and oversight of district directors by DPH.
- SB 293 passed the Senate by a vote of 37-15.
SB 455: Prohibiting denial of claims solely due to lack of prior authorization
- Introduced by Senator Brian Strickland (R-McDonough).
- The bill would prohibit third-party payers from denying payment solely because a health care item or service did not receive prior authorization. This bill would also mandate a response from third-party payers to state inquiries regarding health care claims within 60 days of the receiving the inquiry.
- SB 455 passed the Senate by a vote of 45-2.
SB 433: “Donor Intent Protection Act”
- Introduced by Senator Bill Cowsert (R-Athens).
- Prohibits charitable organizations from violating the terms of donor-imposed restrictions, except as required or authorized by federal or state law or a valid court order.
- SB 433 passed off the Senate floor by a vote of 37-18.
SB 473: “Georgia Consumer Privacy Protection Act”
- Introduced by Senator John Albers (R-Roswell).
- The bill establishes responsibilities for controllers and processors, requirements for notice and disclosure of data practices, and mandates security practices to protect consumer data. It requires controllers to conduct data protection assessments, weighing the benefits of processing against potential risks to consumers’ rights. This bill has multiple sections that do not align with HIPPA definitions and authorization standards.
- SB 473 passed the Senate by a vote of 37-18.
SB 515: Two-year EMS pilot program
- Introduced by Senator Bo Hatchett (R-Cornelia).
- The bill would establish a two-year pilot program overseen by the Georgia Trauma Care Network Commission and the State Office of EMS and Trauma, in collaboration with specific regional EMS councils. The program would involve obtaining and operating four ambulances, with specific allocations for air ambulance crew, inter-facility nonemergency transfers, and assignment to designated regions. An amendment was added on the Senate floor to add “time-sensitive emergent” to lines 28 and 32, and to correct a spelling error.
- SB 515 passed the Senate by a vote of 53-0.
SB 198: “Georgians with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Innovation Commission”
- Introduced by Senator Sally Harrell (D-Atlanta).
- The bill would establish the Georgians with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Innovation Commission to conduct a comprehensive review of conditions, issues, and problems related to support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). An amendment was adopted in committee to change the date from 2028 to 2029 so the commission will last five years as the bill originally intended.
SB 307: Health Insurer Prior Authorization “Gold Card” mandate
- Introduced by Senator Kay Kirkpatrick (R-Marietta).
- The bill requires health insurers to establish a “gold card program” that allows for reduced prior authorization requirements for healthcare providers based on their performance and adherence to evidence-based medicine effective January 1, 2025.
- SB 307 passed the Senate by a vote of 50-1.
SB 480: Mental Health and Substance Abuse professional student loan repayment program
- Introduced by Senator Mike Hodges (R-Brunswick).
- The bill would introduce a program for student loan repayment for mental health and substance use professionals serving in specific capacities.
- SB 480 passed the Senate by a vote of 44-1.
SB 460,: APRN and PA supervision and CRNA supervision in RHTC hospitals
- Introduced by Senator Clint Dixon (R-Gwinnett).
- The limit is raised from four each, to a maximum of eight combined, physician assistants or advanced practice registered nurses at a time. An amendment was added on the Senate floor that would add the CRNA language from SB 419, introduced by Senator Larry Walker (R-Perry), which would allow for a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist to administer anesthesia to patients under an order by a duly licensed physician or podiatrist. This amendment would only apply to hospitals that qualify for the rural hospital tax credit program. The amendment was adopted on the floor.
- SB 460 passed the Senate by a vote of 40-11.
HB 663: “No Patient Left Alone Act”
- Introduced by Representative Matt Hatchett (R-Dublin).
- The “No Patient Left Alone Act,” is a hospital and long-term care facility visitation bill. The bill grants minors and adults the right to have a parent, guardian, or designated person present during their hospital care. Visitors, including caregivers and legal representatives, are allowed, but hospitals and long-term care facilities can establish visitation policies to limit or restrict visitation under certain circumstances. These policies can be enacted to protect patients’ health, prevent interference with care, address disruptive behavior, or when the patient is in law enforcement custody. The bill also allows hospitals and long-term care facilities to require visitors to wear personal protective equipment and comply with safety protocols. The rights specified in the bill cannot be terminated, suspended, or waived by the facility, Department of Public Health, or any governmental entity, even during emergencies.
- HB 663 passed the House by a vote of 171-0.
* HB 924: PBM “white bagging”
- Introduced by Representative Mandi Ballinger (R-Canton).
- HB 924 prohibits insurers from forcing patients to use a process called “white bagging” if their plan is in-network with their provider. This bill only applies to health care providers who have a network contract with a health plan.
- HB 924 passed the House by a vote of 160-1.
HB 1046: APRN and PA authorization to sign death certificates
- Introduced by Representative David Clark (R-Buford).
- The current version authorizes APRNs and PAs to sign death certificates upon the authorization of a delegating physician.
- HB 1046 passed the House by a vote of 163-2.
HB 1314: EMS designated as an “essential service”
- Introduced by Representative Ruwa Romman (D-Duluth).
- The bill would designate emergency medical services, including ambulance service, as an essential service within the state. It clarifies that this designation applies regardless of whether the services are provided by public, private non-profit, or private for-profit entities.
- The bill passed the House 145-5.
HB 1409: Gross negligence for inpatient psychiatric and substance use disorder hospitals
- Introduced by Representative Rob Leverett (R-Elberton).
- The bill requires a claimant to prove gross negligence on the part of a mental health provider. The House Rules substitute narrowed the bill to focus more closely on crisis situations.
- HB 1409 passed the House by a vote of 170-0.