Track Health Legislation
The 2021 Legislative Session began on January 11, 2021. Below please find a listing of bills that Georgians for a Healthy Future is tracking during this session. New bills will be added as they are introduced. For email updates on how to stay involved sign up for action alerts.
GHF released its 2021 policy priorities at this month’s eleventh annual Health Care Unscrambled event. These annual priorities outline the issues that GHF believes are most pressing for Georgia consumers and are best addressed by the state legislature.
Georgians for a Healthy Future Legislative Priorities
| Sort By: Bill Title Bill Status | Bill | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Individual Short-Term Health Insurance Consumer Protection Act; enact | HB 39 | House Prefiled |
| Mental Health Parity Act; enact | HB 49 | House Prefiled |
Education, Department of; develop guidelines for use of telehealth services in public schools
Safe Patient Limits Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation and construction of hospitals and other health care 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 for definitions; 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; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 44 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to speech-language pathologists and audiologists, so as to revise licensing provisions; to enter into an interstate compact known as the “Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact”; to provide the State Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology with the power to administer such compact in this state and to conduct national background checks for which applicants for licensure are required to submit fingerprints; to provide for definitions; to provide for conditions; to provide for eligibility; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Public buildings; indoor air quality assessments; require
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to buildings and housing, so as to require indoor air quality assessments of all public buildings; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Public schools; operational wheelchair onsite at all times; require
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 3 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to student health in elementary and secondary education, so as to require every public school in this state to have an operational wheelchair onsite at all times; to amend Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to imposition, rate, computation, and exemptions regarding income taxes, so as to provide a tax credit for donations of wheelchairs to public schools; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Individual Short-Term Health Insurance Consumer Protection Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding insurance generally, so as to provide for certain consumer protections related to individual short-term health insurance plans; to provide for a short title; to provide for definitions; to provide for a 181 day coverage limit; to provide for the inclusion of most essential health benefits; to prohibit medical underwriting; to provide that preventive services shall be included at no additional cost to the insured; to provide that certain consumer disclosures are required; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Health Benefit Plan Network Access and Adequacy Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 33 of the O.C.G.A., relating to insurance, so as to increase consumer access to health care by improving network adequacy; to provide for the inclusion of a consumer “hold harmless” provision; to provide that under certain circumstances, health carriers shall charge for out-of-network services at in-network rates; to provide for a requirement that carriers file network adequacy plans with the department; to provide for a requirement that health carriers notify providers on an ongoing basis of the specific covered health care services for which the provider is responsible; to provide for a standard continuity of care authorization form proscribed by the Commissioner; to provide for an advisory committee for advising on standard continuity of care; to provide for effective dates; to provide for applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Education; grant program to encourage certain physicians to practice in underserved areas; create
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to scholarships, loans, and grants, so as to create a grant program to encourage certain physicians to practice in underserved areas of the state; to provide for procedures, conditions, and limitations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Mental Health Parity Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the O.C.G.A., relating to insurance generally, so as to require that insurer treatment of claims concerning mental and substance use disorders are treated in parity with other health insurance claims; to amend Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the O.C.G.A., relating to public assistance, so as to require that care management organization treatment of claims concerning mental and substance use disorders are treated in parity with other Medicaid claims; to ensure that insurers and care management organizations comply with certain federal law; to provide for reporting; to provide for enforcement; to provide for definitions; to prohibit certain actions; to provide for applicability; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Georgia Women’s Care Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 4 of Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to arrest by law enforcement officers generally, so as to revise provisions relating to the arrests of pregnant women; to provide that women who have been arrested are offered pregnancy testing upon detention; to enact a provision regarding delayed sentencing for postpartum female inmates; to amend Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to inmate policies, so as to revise provisions relating to the treatment of pregnant and postpartum female inmates; to provide for the reporting of certain information; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
New Mothers Medicaid Expansion Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to social services, so as to require the Department of Community Health to allow mothers giving birth to newborns to retain Medicaid eligibility for one year following such birth; to provide for amendments to the state plan if necessary; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Insurance; out-of-pocket costs for consumers requiring insulin; reduce
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding insurance, so as to reduce out-of-pocket costs for consumers requiring insulin; to amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical assistance generally, so as to reduce out-of-pocket costs for Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids recipients requiring insulin; to provide for definitions; to provide for reporting; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Income tax; refundable earned income tax credit; provide credit
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to imposition, rate, computation, and exemptions from income taxes, so as to provide for a refundable earned income tax credit; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Georgia All-Payer Claims Database; entities that receive certain tax credits; self-funded, employer sponsored health insurance plans are submitting entities; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 31-53-40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to definitions relative to the Georgia All-Payer Claims Database, so as to provide that entities that receive certain tax credits and that provide self-funded, employer sponsored health insurance plans are submitting entities; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Drug Abuse Treatment and Education Programs; patient brokering; prohibit; definitions; exceptions; penalties; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 5 of Title 26 of the O.C.G.A., relating to drug abuse treatment and education programs, so as to prohibit patient brokering; to provide for definitions; to provide for exceptions; to provide for penalties; to provide for enforcement; to provide for venue; to provide for reasonable expenses; to provide for cumulative actions; to amend Chapter 1 of Title 33 of the O.C.G.A., 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; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Professions and Businesses; patient protection measures for patients undergoing sedation in certain settings; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to professions and businesses, so as to provide patient protection measures for patients undergoing sedation in certain settings; to provide for patients under conscious sedation in dental settings and for dental procedures in medispas; to provide for patients under varying levels of sedation in physician offices and medispas; to provide for definitions; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for enforcement; to provide for statutory construction; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Legislation we’re watching
| Sort By: Bill Title Bill Status | Bill | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Education, Department of; develop guidelines for use of telehealth services in public schools | HB 9 | House Prefiled |
| Safe Patient Limits Act; enact | HB 11 | House Prefiled |
| Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact Act; enact | HB 34 | House Second Readers |
| Public buildings; indoor air quality assessments; require | HB 36 | House Prefiled |
| Public schools; operational wheelchair onsite at all times; require | HB 37 | House Prefiled |
| Health Benefit Plan Network Access and Adequacy Act; enact | HB 41 | House Prefiled |
| Education; grant program to encourage certain physicians to practice in underserved areas; create | HB 42 | House Prefiled |
| Georgia Women’s Care Act; enact | HB 58 | House Prefiled |
| New Mothers Medicaid Expansion Act; enact | HB 72 | House First Readers |
| Insurance; out-of-pocket costs for consumers requiring insulin; reduce | HB 73 | House First Readers |
| Income tax; refundable earned income tax credit; provide credit | HB 95 | House Hopper |
| Georgia All-Payer Claims Database; entities that receive certain tax credits; self-funded, employer sponsored health insurance plans are submitting entities; provide | SB 1 | Senate Read and Referred |
| Drug Abuse Treatment and Education Programs; patient brokering; prohibit; definitions; exceptions; penalties; provide | SB 4 | Senate Read and Referred |
| Professions and Businesses; patient protection measures for patients undergoing sedation in certain settings; provide | SB 5 | Senate Read and Referred |
Education, Department of; develop guidelines for use of telehealth services in public schools
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 3 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the health of students generally, so as to require the Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and others, to develop guidelines for the use of telehealth services in public schools to provide mental health and behavioral health services to students at school or during any school related function; to define the term “telehealth”; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Safe Patient Limits Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation and construction of hospitals and other health care 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 for definitions; 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; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 44 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to speech-language pathologists and audiologists, so as to revise licensing provisions; to enter into an interstate compact known as the “Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact”; to provide the State Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology with the power to administer such compact in this state and to conduct national background checks for which applicants for licensure are required to submit fingerprints; to provide for definitions; to provide for conditions; to provide for eligibility; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Public buildings; indoor air quality assessments; require
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to buildings and housing, so as to require indoor air quality assessments of all public buildings; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Public schools; operational wheelchair onsite at all times; require
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 3 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to student health in elementary and secondary education, so as to require every public school in this state to have an operational wheelchair onsite at all times; to amend Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to imposition, rate, computation, and exemptions regarding income taxes, so as to provide a tax credit for donations of wheelchairs to public schools; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Individual Short-Term Health Insurance Consumer Protection Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding insurance generally, so as to provide for certain consumer protections related to individual short-term health insurance plans; to provide for a short title; to provide for definitions; to provide for a 181 day coverage limit; to provide for the inclusion of most essential health benefits; to prohibit medical underwriting; to provide that preventive services shall be included at no additional cost to the insured; to provide that certain consumer disclosures are required; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Health Benefit Plan Network Access and Adequacy Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 33 of the O.C.G.A., relating to insurance, so as to increase consumer access to health care by improving network adequacy; to provide for the inclusion of a consumer “hold harmless” provision; to provide that under certain circumstances, health carriers shall charge for out-of-network services at in-network rates; to provide for a requirement that carriers file network adequacy plans with the department; to provide for a requirement that health carriers notify providers on an ongoing basis of the specific covered health care services for which the provider is responsible; to provide for a standard continuity of care authorization form proscribed by the Commissioner; to provide for an advisory committee for advising on standard continuity of care; to provide for effective dates; to provide for applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Education; grant program to encourage certain physicians to practice in underserved areas; create
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to scholarships, loans, and grants, so as to create a grant program to encourage certain physicians to practice in underserved areas of the state; to provide for procedures, conditions, and limitations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Mental Health Parity Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the O.C.G.A., relating to insurance generally, so as to require that insurer treatment of claims concerning mental and substance use disorders are treated in parity with other health insurance claims; to amend Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the O.C.G.A., relating to public assistance, so as to require that care management organization treatment of claims concerning mental and substance use disorders are treated in parity with other Medicaid claims; to ensure that insurers and care management organizations comply with certain federal law; to provide for reporting; to provide for enforcement; to provide for definitions; to prohibit certain actions; to provide for applicability; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Georgia Women’s Care Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 4 of Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to arrest by law enforcement officers generally, so as to revise provisions relating to the arrests of pregnant women; to provide that women who have been arrested are offered pregnancy testing upon detention; to enact a provision regarding delayed sentencing for postpartum female inmates; to amend Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to inmate policies, so as to revise provisions relating to the treatment of pregnant and postpartum female inmates; to provide for the reporting of certain information; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
New Mothers Medicaid Expansion Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to social services, so as to require the Department of Community Health to allow mothers giving birth to newborns to retain Medicaid eligibility for one year following such birth; to provide for amendments to the state plan if necessary; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Insurance; out-of-pocket costs for consumers requiring insulin; reduce
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding insurance, so as to reduce out-of-pocket costs for consumers requiring insulin; to amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical assistance generally, so as to reduce out-of-pocket costs for Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids recipients requiring insulin; to provide for definitions; to provide for reporting; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Income tax; refundable earned income tax credit; provide credit
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to imposition, rate, computation, and exemptions from income taxes, so as to provide for a refundable earned income tax credit; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Georgia All-Payer Claims Database; entities that receive certain tax credits; self-funded, employer sponsored health insurance plans are submitting entities; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 31-53-40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to definitions relative to the Georgia All-Payer Claims Database, so as to provide that entities that receive certain tax credits and that provide self-funded, employer sponsored health insurance plans are submitting entities; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Drug Abuse Treatment and Education Programs; patient brokering; prohibit; definitions; exceptions; penalties; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 5 of Title 26 of the O.C.G.A., relating to drug abuse treatment and education programs, so as to prohibit patient brokering; to provide for definitions; to provide for exceptions; to provide for penalties; to provide for enforcement; to provide for venue; to provide for reasonable expenses; to provide for cumulative actions; to amend Chapter 1 of Title 33 of the O.C.G.A., 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; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Professions and Businesses; patient protection measures for patients undergoing sedation in certain settings; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to professions and businesses, so as to provide patient protection measures for patients undergoing sedation in certain settings; to provide for patients under conscious sedation in dental settings and for dental procedures in medispas; to provide for patients under varying levels of sedation in physician offices and medispas; to provide for definitions; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for enforcement; to provide for statutory construction; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.