HR8: HR8 State Workgroup to Increase Chronic Disease Information and Screenings in Communities of Color; support creation

This resolution does not change Georgia law directly. Instead, the House of Representatives expresses support for creating a new State Workgroup to Increase Chronic Disease Information and Screenings in Communities of Color. The workgroup would be jointly overseen by the State Office of Rural Health within the Department of Community Health and the Office of Minority Health within the Department of Public Health. The resolution asks the workgroup to focus on projects that improve access to chronic disease information and screenings, including through telehealth, and to consider pairing chronic disease screening information with vaccination appointments. It calls for inviting a wide range of members, from patient advocates to faith leaders to representatives of rural and urban local governments, and asks the workgroup to report back to the House, Senate, and Governor within nine months of the resolution's adoption.

• Expresses House support for creating a State Workgroup to Increase Chronic Disease Information and Screenings in Communities of Color.
• Assigns joint oversight of the workgroup to the State Office of Rural Health and the Office of Minority Health.
• Directs the workgroup to develop projects on chronic disease information and screenings, including telehealth options, in communities of color.
• Asks the workgroup to consider delivering chronic disease and screening information alongside vaccination administration.
• Calls for the workgroup to include representatives from a dozen listed groups, such as patient organizations, nurse educators, faith based organizations, and rural and urban local governments.
• Requires the workgroup to report progress to the House, Senate, and Governor within nine months of the resolution's adoption.

The State Office of Rural Health, the Department of Community Health, the Office of Minority Health, and the Department of Public Health would organize and oversee the workgroup. Patient organizations, nurse educators, faith based groups, healthcare companies, federally qualified health centers, HBCUs, and rural and urban local governments would be invited to participate.

If the workgroup is formed, Georgians in communities of color and rural areas could see new projects aimed at improving access to chronic disease screening and information, including telehealth options and screenings paired with vaccinations, though the resolution itself creates no funding or binding requirements.

• Paragraph (1) states House support for creating the Workgroup.
• Paragraph (2) places oversight with the State Office of Rural Health and the Office of Minority Health.
• Paragraph (3) directs the Workgroup to focus on projects increasing chronic disease information and screenings, including telehealth, in communities of color.
• Paragraph (4) asks the Workgroup to consider delivering screening information alongside vaccine administration.
• Paragraph (5) lists twelve categories of invited members, from patient organization representatives to a state legislator representing minority constituents.
• Paragraph (6) requires a progress report to the House, Senate, and Governor within nine months of adoption.
• The closing section directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to the two overseeing state offices.

1. 2025-01-15House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-01-14House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-01-13House Hopper (House)

• Kim Schofield (D, HD-063)Primary sponsor
• Viola Davis (D, HD-087)
• Sandra Scott (D, HD-076)
• Billy Mitchell (D, HD-088)
• Derrick Jackson (D, HD-068)

• chronic disease
• health disparities
• minority health
• rural health
• public health