Georgia General Assembly Healthcare Legislation

Georgia State Capitol Building

The Georgia General Assembly suspended the 2020 legislative session indefinitely after Friday, March 13, 2020. The following are bills relating to healthcare that have not yet passed.

HB 542 - Georgia Charity Care Exchange

This bill was created amend Chapter 8 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (OCGA), relating to the care and protection of indigent and elderly patients, so as to authorize healthcare facilities to purchase and sell charity care credits through an exchange to meet their indigent and charity care requirements; to provide for the creation of the Georgia Charity Care Exchange; to provide for contractual arrangements between healthcare facilities for the first two years; and for other purposes. Status: House Committee Favorably Reported by Substitute

HB 717 - Georgia Licensed Midwife Act

This bill was created to amend Title 31 of the OCGA, relating to health, so as to repeal in its entirety Chapter 26, relating to the practice of midwifery; to amend Title 43 of the OCGA, relating to professions and businesses, so as to provide for the licensure and regulation of midwives; to provide for the creation of the Advisory Board for Licensed Midwives; to provide for its membership and duties; to provide for licensure requirements; and for other purposes. Status: House Second Readers

HB 719 - Modernization of HIV Related Laws

This bill was created to amend Title 16 of the OCGA, relating to crimes and offenses, so as to provide for the modernization of HIV related laws to align with science to ensure that laws and policies support current understanding of best public health practices for preventing and treating HIV, scientific evidence about routes of transmission, and the public health goals of promoting HIV prevention and treatment. Status: Senate Read and Referred

HB 722 - Health

This bill was created to amend Code Section 31-2-8 of the OCGA, relating to actions against certain applicants or licensees, so as to increase fine amount limits; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Status: House Second Readers

HB 725 - Social Services

This bill was created to amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the OCGA, relating to medical assistance generally, so as to provide for two or more dental service organization administrators for dental services for Medicaid recipients and PeachCare for Kids participants; to require the Department of Community Health to competitively bid out and contract with such dental service organization administrators; to provide for requirements for the dental service organization administrators; to provide for applicability; to provide for an amendment to the state plan if necessary; and for other purposes. Status: House Second Readers

HB 745 - Georgia Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act

This bill was created to amend Chapter 2A of Title 31 of the OCGA to enact the “Georgia Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act”; to provide for legislative findings and intent; to require perinatal facilities in this state to implement evidence based implicit bias programs for its healthcare professionals; to require certain components in such programs; to provide for initial and refresher training; to provide for the compilation and tracking of data on severe maternal morbidity and pregnancy related deaths; and for other purposes. Status: House Second Readers

HB 746 - Women’s Right to Immediate Access Act

This bill was created to amend Chapter 9A of Title 31 of the OCGA, relating to the “Woman’s Right to Know Act,” so as to authorize any female upon whom an abortion is to be performed to decide not to receive or review informational materials regarding an unborn child, certify that she received or reviewed such informational materials, view the fetal image, or hear the fetal heartbeat prior to obtaining an abortion; to provide for documentation of such decision; to provide for limited liability; and for other purposes. Status: House Second Readers

HB 748 - Healthcare Access for Low-Income Seniors

This bill was created to amend Chapter 8 of Title 31 of the OCGA, relating to care and protection of indigent and elderly patients to provide for measures to improve healthcare access for low-income senior individuals. Status: House Pre-filed

HB 800 - Medical Assistance

This bill was created to amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the OCGA, relating to medical assistance generally, so as to provide for healthcare services by providers in bordering states to Georgia Medicaid recipients under certain conditions; to authorize the Department of Community Health to enter into agreements and compacts with other states; and for other purposes. Status: House Second Readers

HB 801 - Health

This bill was created to amend Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the OCGA, relating to regulation and construction of hospitals and other healthcare facilities, so as to limit the number of patients that may be assigned to a registered professional nurse in specified situations in hospitals; to provide that nothing shall preclude a hospital from assigning fewer patients to a registered professional nurse than the established limits; to require the adoption of written policies and procedures for the training and orientation of nursing staff by hospitals; to provide for sanctions; to provide for rules and regulations; and for other purposes. Status: House Second Readers

HB 842 - Gracie’s Law

This bill was created to amend Chapter 1 of Title 31 of the OCGA, so as to prohibit providers from discriminating against potential organ transplant recipients due solely to the physical or mental disability of the potential recipient; to amend Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the OCGA relating to insurance generally, so as to prohibit health insurers from discriminating against potential organ transplant recipients due solely to the physical or mental disability of the potential recipient; and for other purposes. Status: Senate Read and Referred

HB 849 - Authorized Electronic Monitoring in Long-Term Care Facilities Act

This bill was created to amend Chapter 8 of Title 31 of the OCGA, relating to care and protection of indigent and elderly patients, so as to provide for authorized electronic monitoring in long-term care facilities; to provide consent requirements; to provide for notice to the facility; to provide for cost and installation; to provide for notice to visitors; to prohibit obstruction of electronic monitoring devices; to limit access to recordings; to provide for limited liability; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for a notification and consent form; and for other purposes. Status: House Second Readers

HB 910 - Georgia Licensed Midwife Act

This bill was created to amend Title 31 of the OCGA, relating to health, so as to repeal in its entirety Chapter 26, relating to the practice of midwifery; to amend Title 43 of the OCGA, relating to professions and businesses, so as to provide for the licensure and regulation of midwives; to amend Code Section 43-26-12 of the OCGA, relating to exceptions to the operation of the “Georgia Registered Professional Nurse Practice Act,” so as to provide for an exception relating to the practice of midwifery; and for other purposes. Status: House Second Readers

HB 947 - Community Health

This bill was created to amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the OCGA, relating to Medicaid generally, so as to require the Department of Community Health to engage an actuary to conduct an actuarial study of the fiscal impact of carving out pharmacy benefits from the state’s current Medicaid care management organizations; to provide for actions based on the results of the actuarial study; to provide for submission of a waiver if necessary; and for other purposes. Status: Senate Read and Referred

HB 961 - Prescription Drugs

This bill was created to amend Title 31 of the OCGA to provide for the identification of high-cost prescription drugs for which the state expends significant healthcare funds; to provide for submission of a list of the identified drugs to the Attorney General; to authorize the Attorney General to require certain information from drug manufacturers; to provide for an annual report to the General Assembly; to provide for confidentiality; to provide for civil penalties for noncompliance; and for other purposes. Status: House Second Readers

HB 987 - Protection of Elderly Persons

This bill was created to amend Title 31 of the OCGA to provide additional measures for the protection of elderly persons; to increase the maximum fines for violation by healthcare facilities; to provide for staffing, training, and financial stability requirements for certain personal care homes and assisted living communities; to provide for limited nursing services in assisted living communities; to provide for certification of memory care centers; to amend Title 43 of the OCGA, relating to professions and businesses, so as to provide for definitions; to rename the State Board of Nursing Home Administrators the State Board of Long-Term Care Facility Administrators; and for other purposes. Status: Senate Read and Referred

HB 991 - Healthcare Transparency and Accountability Act

This bill was created to amend Title 31 of the OCGA, to provide for transparency relating to state healthcare plans and its contractors; to provide for a short title; to provide for an oversight committee; to provide for its members and powers; to provide for information from state contractors and others to the oversight committee regarding state healthcare plans; to provide for confidentiality of certain records; to provide for penalties; and for other purposes. Status: Senate Read and Referred

HB 1024 - Freestanding Emergency Departments

This bill was created to amend Chapter 6 of Title 31 of the OCGA, relating to state health planning and development, so as to provide for freestanding emergency departments under the certificate of need program; to provide an exemption from certificate of need requirements for certain inpatient beds for behavioral health patients and for freestanding emergency departments in rural counties. Status: House Second Readers

HB 1027 - Insurance

This bill was created to amend Chapter 64 of Title 33 of the OCGA, relating to regulation and licensure of pharmacy benefits managers, so as to provide for requirements relating to rebates received from pharmaceutical manufacturers; to prohibit certain activity; to provide for transparency; to prohibit public disclosure of certain information relating to rebates; to provide for an effective date and applicability; and for other purposes. Status: House Committee Favorably Reported by Substitute

HB 1032 - Certificate of Need Laws

This bill was created to amend Code Section 31-7-3 of the OCGA, relating to requirements for permits to operate certain healthcare related institutions, so as to provide that certain facilities that perform medical procedures only in non-sterile procedure rooms that are exempt from certificate of need requirements or are not required to obtain a certificate of need are not subject to certain requirements relating to their physical plant under certificate of need laws; to provide that such facilities cannot be denied a permit based on not meeting a certificate of need requirement; and for other purposes. Status: Senate Read and Referred

HB 1054 - Newborn Screening for Various Disorders

This bill was created to amend Chapter 12 of Title 31 of the OCGA, relating to control of hazardous conditions, preventable diseases, and metabolic disorders, so as to revise provisions relating to newborn screening for various disorders; to create the Newborn Screening and Genetics Advisory Committee to review and make recommendations to the department when a new disorder is added to the federal Recommended Uniform Screening Panel; to provide for requests for appropriations to cover new disorders; and for other purposes. Status: Senate Read and Referred

HB 1092 - Professions and Businesses

This bill was created to amend Code Section 43-34-25 of the OCGA, relating to delegation of certain medical acts to advanced practice registered nurse, so as to authorize the delegation by a physician to an advanced practice registered nurse to order radiographic imaging tests in non-lifethreatening situations; to revise definitions; to increase the number of advanced practice registered nurses with whom a delegating physician can enter into a nurse protocol agreement and supervise at one time; and for other purposes. Status: Senate Read and Referred

HB 1105 - Patient Protection Through Health Information Exchange Act

This bill was created to amend Article 12 of Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the OCGA, relating to healthcare data collection, so as to require hospitals to participate in a survey disclosing whether such hospitals maintain technology allowing the electronic sharing of certain patient information with other hospitals; to provide that the department shall collect the survey results and submit a report to the legislature; to provide for repeal; to provide for applicability; and for other purposes. Status: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

HB 1125 - Lacee’s Law

This bill was created to amend Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 31 and Article 1 of Chapter 18 of Title 45 of the OCGA, relating to general provisions relating to health and state employees’ health insurance and benefit plans, respectively, so as to provide for information and screening coverage for individuals at high risk for breast cancer; to provide for identified and compiled information to be posted on the internet and distributed to physicians; to provide for coverage under the state health benefit plan for additional screening for individuals at high risk for breast cancer; and for other purposes. Status: Senate Read and Referred

HB 1134 - Living Infants Fairness and Equality (LIFE) Act

This bill was created to repeal the provisions of HB 481 passed during the 2019 regular session and to restore the law to what it was before such bill was enacted; to amend Chapter 2 of Title 1 of the OCGA, relating to persons and their rights; to amend Article 5 of Chapter 12 of Title 16 of the OCGA, relating to abortion; to amend Chapter 6 of Title 19 of the OCGA, relating to alimony and child support; to amend Chapter 7 of Title 19 of the OCGA, relating to parent and child relationship generally; to amend Chapter 9A of Title 31 of the OCGA, relating to the “Woman’s Right to Know Act;” to amend Chapter 9B of Title 31 of the OCGA, relating to physician’s obligation in performance of abortions; to amend Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the OCGA, relating to income taxes; and for other purposes. Status: House Second Readers

SB 104 - Resuscitation

This bill was created to amend Code Section 31-39-4 of the OCGA, relating to persons authorized to issue order not to resuscitate, so as to revise parental requirement for consent; and for other purposes. Status: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

SB 109 - Advanced Practice Registered Nurses

This bill was created to amend Code Section 43-34-25 of the OCGA, relating to delegation of certain medical acts to advanced practice registered nurse, so as to authorize the delegation by a physician to an advanced practice registered nurse to order radiographic imaging tests in nonlife-threatening situations; to increase the number of advanced practice registered nurses with whom a delegating physician can enter into a nurse protocol agreement; and for other purposes. Status: Senate Recommitted

SB 279 - Consent for Surgical or Medical Treatment

This bill was created to amend Chapter 9 of Title 31 of the OCGA, relating to consent for surgical or medical treatment, so as to prohibit pelvic examinations on an anesthetized or unconscious female patient without consent or a court order except in cases of emergency; and for other purposes. Status: Senate Read and Referred

SB 291 - Georgia Death with Dignity Act

This bill was created to amend Title 31 of the OCGA so as to create provisions for physician-assisted end-of-life options for terminally ill individuals; to provide a criminal penalty; and for other purposes. Status: Senate Read and Referred

SB 311 - Patient Brokering

This bill was created to amend Chapter 1 of Title 31 of the OCGA, relating to general provisions regarding health, so as to prohibit patient brokering; to provide for exceptions; to provide for penalties; to amend Chapter 1 of Title 33 of the OCGA, relating to general provisions regarding insurance, so as to provide that excessive, fraudulent, or high-tech drug testing of certain individuals is considered a fraudulent insurance act; to provide for investigation by the Commissioner of Insurance; to provide for penalties; and for other purposes. Status: House Second Readers

SB 321 - Physician Assistants

This bill was created to amend Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the OCGA, relating to physicians, assistants, and others, so as to revise provisions relating to the number of physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses a physician can authorize and supervise at any one time; to remove a limitation on where a physician assistant is authorized to practice; and for other purposes. Status: House Second Readers

SB 334 - Certified Community Midwife Act

This bill was created to amend Title 43 of the OCGA, relating to professions and businesses, so as to provide for the licensure and regulation of certified community midwives; to provide for a short title; to provide for the creation of the Certified Community Midwife Board; to provide for its membership and duties; to provide for licensure requirements; to provide for the issuance, renewal, and revocation of licenses; to provide for violations; to require written informed consent from clients; to provide for limitations and requirements; to provide for consultation and transfer; to provide for prohibited acts; to provide for statutory construction; to amend Title 31 of the OCGA, so as to repeal in its entirety Chapter 26, relating to the practice of midwifery; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Status: Senate Read and Referred

SB 347 - Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities

This bill was created to amend Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the OCGA, relating to regulation and construction of hospitals and other healthcare facilities, so as to require hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to utilize surgical smoke evacuation systems during surgical procedures to protect patients and healthcare workers from the hazards of surgical smoke; and for other purposes. Status: Senate Read and Referred

SB 361 - Jay’s Law

This bill was created to amend Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the OCGA, relating to regulation and construction of hospitals and other healthcare facilities, so as to require hospitals to establish protocols for the early recognition and treatment of sepsis; to require training of hospital staff on the protocols; to provide for data collection; to provide for submission of protocols to the Department of Community Health upon request; to provide for certain actions by the Department of Community Health subject to appropriations; and for other purposes. Status: Senate Read and Referred

SB 372 - Public Health

This bill was created to amend various titles of the OCGA, so as to modernize, clarify, and update provisions relating to public health; to amend Article 1 of Chapter 10 of Title 17 of the OCGA, relating to procedure for sentencing and imposition of punishment, so as to revise a provision regarding the requirement of defendants to submit to HIV tests for AIDS transmitting crimes; to amend Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 19 of the OCGA, relating to license and ceremony for marriage generally; to amend Title 31 of the OCGA, so as to revise provisions regarding the Office of Women’s Health; to amend various titles of the OCGA, so as to update terminology relating to sexually transmitted diseases; and for other purposes. Status: House Second Readers

SB 395 - County and Municipal Hospital Authorities

This bill was created to amend Article 4 of Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the OCGA, relating to county and municipal hospital authorities, so as to revise the standard of indigency relating to portioning of proceeds from the sale or lease of a hospital by a hospital authority; to provide for additional methods for the investment of funds by hospital authorities which hold an irrevocable trust wherein the corpus exceeds certain amounts; and for other purposes. Status: House Second Readers

SB 424 - Accessible Healthcare for Rural Georgia Act

This bill was created to amend Article 3 of Chapter 6 of Title 31 of the OCGA, relating to the certificate of need program, so as to require general cancer hospitals to provide at least 3 percent uncompensated indigent or charity care; to require the publishing of a detailed accounting of all unpaid fines and other amounts owed by a general cancer hospital; to require that any fines and other penalties in arrears are paid prior to approval of any new inpatient beds; to provide that any new inpatient beds of a general cancer hospital be located in rural counties with no hospitals; and for other purposes. Status: Senate Read and Referred

SB 483 - Behavioral Rehabilitation and Stability Services Act

This bill was created to amend Title 31 of the OCGA, to provide for certain Medicaid reimbursement for patients treated pursuant to a behavioral rehabilitation joint venture; to provide that proceeds from the rural tax credit program received by a behavioral rehabilitation joint venture is not counted against a hospital’s cap; and for other purposes. Status: House Second Readers

SB 484 - Health

This bill was created to amend Title 31 of the OCGA to adopt the Solemn Covenant of the States to Award Prizes for Curing Diseases; to provide for the entry of the state into a multistate compact to incentivize the development of cures for diseases through substantial financial awards; to provide for a commission to administer the compact; to establish the powers and duties of the commission; to provide for committees; to provide for financing; to provide for effectiveness; to provide for withdrawal, default, and expulsion; to provide for severability and construction; and for other purposes. Status: House First Readers

SB 500 - Hospice Care

This bill was created to amend Article 9 of Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the OCGA, relating to hospice care, so as to provide that hospice administrators are not required to be healthcare professionals or trained in health services administration; and for other purposes. Status: Senate Read and Referred

Source: The Georgia General Assembly. For more information, visit www.legis.ga.gov.