Bills We’re Watching: HB 476

By Cindy Zeldin


On Friday, House Bill 476, which would establish the Georgia Health Exchange Authority, was introduced. The legislation sets up a governance structure for a state health insurance exchange and creates an advisory committee to advise the governing board on the design, implementation, and operation of the exchange and is tasked with providing a report containing specific recommendations based on a set of guiding principles delineated in the bill in December 2011. This legislation is a constructive first step towards creating a more competitive, consumer-friendly, and affordable health insurance marketplace in Georgia. The bill is on the agenda in the House Insurance Committee on Tuesday, March 8th at 4pm in Room 406 CLOB.


Treat the poor or lose tax-exempt status, landmark case states

In a March ruling that could hold implications for all nonprofit hospitals, the Illinois Supreme Court stripped not-for-profit Provena Covenant Medical Center of its exemption from property tax, stating that the hospital did not provide enough charity care to justify that exemption.


A hospital earns its tax-exempt status through the benefits it provides to the community, the most of which being the free or reduced-cost care for those eligible for such assistance. Such care is deemed indigent or charity care.


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Nearly two million Georgians are uninsured.Source: CPS data
Georgia’s infant mortality rate is among the worst in the nation.Source: KidsCount
Georgia ranks 38th in health system performance.Source: Commonwealth Fund State Scorecard
2012 is a critical year for health care advocacy--your voice matters!Source: GHF

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