Legislative Summary House Bills
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2018 Legislative Summary Includes bills of interest that carried over from the 2017 session as well as new bills introduced in 2018. PASSED û FAILED To get a feel for the events of this session overall, we suggest Andy Miller's article "Legislative Twists" which was published on March 20 in Georgia Health News, and which you can read here. House Bills û HB 646 Bariatric Pilot Program for State û HB 678 Surprise Billing/Transparency Health Benefit Plan Rep. Richard Smith û HB 161 Harm Reduction Requires disclosure and transparency for out of Rep. Katie Dempsey Rep. Betty Price, MD network patients. Continues the SHBP Plan Pilot for Bariatric Surgery Allows for needle exchange programs and the sale of HB 683 FY2018 Budget ("Little" Budget) clean needles and syringes. û HB 647 Obesity Treatment Pilot Rep. David Ralston û Rep. Katie Dempsey HB 293 Evidence, Child's Testimony/Sexual HB 684 General Appropriations FY2019 Contact & Physical Abuse Provide for a pilot program to provide coverage for the Budget ("Big" Budget) treatment and management of obesity and related Rep. Deborah Silcox Rep. David Ralston conditions. To provide an effective date for the procedure û relating to the testimony of a child's description of HB 660 Criminal Procedures/Hate Crimes HB 697 Tax Exemption - Heath Clinics - Sunset sexual contact or physical abuse. Rep. Meagan Hanson Removal Provides sentencing for those who commit certain Rep. Darlene Taylor û HB 301 Physician Preceptorship, Tax Credit crimes which target a victim because of their race, Rep. Jodi Lott Extends an exemption from state sales and use tax- color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, es for five additional years regarding the sale or use Deletes an income tax deduction for certain physicians gender, mental or physical disability; also provides of tangible personal property for certain nonprofit serving as community based faculty physicians and law enforcement training . health centers. creates an income tax credit for taxpayers licensed HB 673 Texting & Driving/Distracted Driving as physicians, APRNs, or PAs who provide uncom- HB 701 Opioid Testing for State Employment pensated preceptorship training to medical, APRN, Rep. John Carson Rep. Kevin Tanner or PA students. Prohibits actions which distract a driver while Drug testing for state employment, so as to allow for û HB 519 Step Therapy operating a motor vehicle. testing for all forms of opioids. û HB 675 Tax Credit - Medicaid Eligible û Rep. Sharon Cooper HB 716 Pre-Arrest Diversion for Drug & Mental Employee Placed on Employers Plan Health Treatment Act Requires health benefit plans to utilize certain clinical Rep. Clay Cox Rep. Paulette Rakestraw review criteria to establish step therapy protocols and provides for a step therapy override determination Would provide employers with an income tax credit Would allow offenders of non-violent drug crimes process. for up to three years for each Medicaid eligible to voluntarily opt to enter treatment in lieu of being employee who participates in an employer's health arrested. û HB 314 Surprise Billing benefit plan. Rep. Jason Shaw and Sen. Chuck Hufstetler Comprehensively addresses the issue of out-of-net- Everything that passed now enters work billing and billing transparency. Endorsed by a forty day bill review period the Medical Association of Georgia. during which they will either be signed or vetoed by Governor Deal. 2 2018 SESSION HB 764/HB 65 PTSD/THC Oil Provides that children placed in psychiatric residential û HB 999 Weapons Carry License treatment facilities pursuant to a physician's order Rep. David Clark Rep. Christin Coomer may not be charged tuition. Allows for small quantities of low THC oil to be dis- Would bring Georgia in line with federal gun back- tributed and dispensed to those with PTSD. ADDED û HB 872 Selection Standards for Provider ground check requirements. TO HB 65. Participation Rep. David Knight HB 769 House Rural Development Council Would require insurers to develop selection standards Senate Bills Rep. Rick Jasperse for provider participation. This bill reflects the House Rural Development Council û SB 31 State Health Benefit Plan recommendations on health care. DETAILS ON PAGE 5. û HB 873 Prior Authorization Reform Sen. Josh McKoon Rep. David Knight Requires at least two members of the Board of Com- û HB 776 Cameras/Nursing Homes Would promote consistency and clarity in the dis- munity Health to be members of SHBP and creates a Rep. Demetrius Douglas closure of prescription drug formularies. Customer Advisory Council that will advise on ways to improve the SHBP. Would authorize electronic monitoring in long-term û HB 895 Prohibition & Minor Age Verification care facilities. Cough Medicines SB 118 Autism Coverage HB 782/407 PDMP (Prescription Drug Rep. Sharon Cooper Sen. Renee Unterman Monitoring Program) Clean Up Bill Would prohibit the sale of dextromethorphan to Would raise the mandatory age cap for autism Rep. Trey Rhodes minors. insurance coverage from 6 to 21. In conjunction with the Department of Public Health, û HB 915 Massage Therapists Licensure û SB 164 PT Insurance/Co-Payment will allow for interstate communication with other Rep. Lee Hawkins Sen. Fran Millar PDMPs, allow for EHR communication, and allows Allows for state licensure as a massage/bodywork Prohibits insurers from imposing a copayment, coin- physician delegates to register directly with the De- therapist. surance, or office visit deductible amount greater than partment of Public Health. ADDED TO HB 407. such charges imposed on a physician or an osteopath û HB 943 Opioid Alternative Treatment Act HB 795 STATE WORKERS COMP BOARD to an insured for services rendered by a physical therapist, an occupational therapist, or chiropractor. Rep. Katie Dempsey Rep. Karen Mathiak Board now subject to Administrative Procedures Mandates carriers to cover other treatment options. û SB 318 EMT/1013 Sen. Doc Rhett Act (was previously the only state agency outside of HB 977/461 Microblading (Eyebrow tattooing) corrections not subject to the APA). Rep. Karen Mathiak A pilot program allowing EMTs to order a provisional 1013 in two urban counties. û HB 799 Out of Network Hospitals - Post Allows for temporary tattoos above the eye socket. Stabilization Care ADDED TO HB 461. SB 321 False Medicaid Claims Sen. Blake Tillery Rep. Sharon Cooper û HB 992 Automated External Defibrillators Increases civil penalties for false or fraudulent WITHDRAWN. HOUSE STUDY COMMITTEE PENDING. Rep. Jodi Lott Medicaid claims. Mandates that after use of any automated external HB 818 Insurance Reimbursement Method - defibrillator emergency medical services are to be û SB 325 Interstate Medical Compact Credit Card Payments from Carriers contacted. Rep. Lee Hawkins Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick, MD Provides that a health care provider shall choose the method by which such provider shall be reimbursed by an insurer for health care services performed. HB 830 Annual Drug Update Bill Rep. Buddy Harden HB 831 Georgia’s Employment First Act Rep. Bill Werkhesier Establishes the Employment First Georgia Council for all working age citizens with disabilities. û HB 847 Psychology Interjurisdictional (i.e. Interstate) Compact Rep. Joyce Chandler HB 853 Psychiatric Residential Treatment - Quality Basic Education Rep. Katie Dempsey CAPITOL WATCH 3 û SB 334 Nursing Board Transfer to DCH as an û SB 415 Back Up Power/Health Care Facilities Attached Agency Sen. Lindsey Tippins Sen. Renee Unterman Moves the nursing board from under the Secretary SB 422 Pharmacists Testing of State's Office to DCH, much like the Composite By Sen. Renee Unterman Medical Board. Would allow pharmacists to perform and interpret û SB 351 APRN Full Prescriptive Authority the results for certain types of tests. Sen. Renee Unterman û SB 424 Center for Rural Health Innovation Amended to allow for expanded supervision only - Sen. David Lucas no prescribing authority. û SB 434 Name Change - Georgia Physician û SB 352 Commission on Substance Abuse Workforce and Recovery By Sen. Renee Unterman Sen. Renee Unterman Change name to Georgia Board of Health Care Creates a way for communities and recovery treat- Workforce. ment providers to work together to expand access û SB 471 E-Prescribing - Schedule II to treatment, sets up a K-12 education strategy Sen. Chuck Hufstetler designed to educate students about and prevent abuse of substances (both street drugs and household Would mandate electronic prescribing for all medications); it will also include insurance reforms prescriptions. to protect patients who are undergoing treatment for drug addiction. SB 357 Health Coordination & Innovation Council of the State Sen Dean Burke This council is a recommendation of Lt. Gov. Cagle's Senate House health care task force, and would coordinate health Resolutions Resolutions planning and services of all relative state agencies. û SB 359 Consumer Coverage Protection for SR 620 Physician's Day HR 905 Physician's Day Out of Network Medical Care Act SR 683 Resurgens Orthopaedics HR 913 Law Enforcement/Treatment and Sen. Chuck Hufstetler Advocacy Day Social Services for Persons/Drug Abuse Addresses surprise/out of network billing and reflects SR 684 Self Care Month HR 915 Telehealth the collective efforts of the Medical Association of SR 694 GSO Advocacy Day HR 995 GACSB Day Georgia and a board coalition of physician specialties. SR 717 Medical Association of Georgia HR 1013 GSO Day SB 364 Anesthesiologist PA Recognize Medical Reserve Corps HR 1058 Resurgens Orthopaedics