HB334: HB334 Sickle Cell Disease Protection Act; enact

26 HB 334/AP House Bill 334 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE) By: Representatives Crawford of the 89th, Oliver of the 84th, Au of the 50th, Willis of the 55th, Westbrook of the 163rd, and others A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Chapter 1A of Title 20 and Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia1 Annotated, relating to early care and learning and public assis tance, respectively, so as to2 address childhood viruses and diseases by providing information and collecting data; to3 provide for child care learning centers and family child care l earning homes to provide4 certain information on respiratory syncytial virus to parents; to require the Department of5 Community Health to conduct an annual review of medications and treatment for sickle cell6 disease for Medicaid recipients; to provide for public input; to provide for an annual report;7 to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.8 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:9 SECTION 1.10 Chapter 1A of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to early care and11 learning, is amended in Article 1, relating to general provisions, by adding a new subsection12 to Code Section 20-1A-18, relating to information on influenza vaccine, to read as follows:13 "(a.1) Each child care learning center and family child care le arning home shall, by14 September 1 of each year, provide to the parent or guardian of each child enrolled therein15 educational information on the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and recommendations on16 H. B. 334 - 1 - 26 HB 334/AP prevention based on guidelines and recommendations on the subje ct from professional17 medical organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics."18 SECTION 2.19 Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to public assistance,20 is amended in Article 7, relating to medical assistance general ly, by adding a new Code21 section to read as follows:22 "49-4-159.5.23 (a) The department shall conduct an annual review of all medications, forms of treatment,24 and services that are eligible for coverage under the Medicaid program for Medicaid25 recipients with a diagnosis of sickle cell disease. The purpose of the annual review shall26 be to determine if the available covered medications, treatments, and services are adequate27 to meet the needs of Medicaid recipients with a diagnosis of si ckle cell disease, and28 whether the department should seek to add additional medications, treatments, or services.29 (b) When conducting the annual review required by this Code section, the department shall30 solicit and consider input from the general public, with specific emphasis on attempting to31 receive input from persons or groups with knowledge and experience in the area of sickle32 cell disease treatment.33 (c) On or before January 15 of each year, the department shall submit a report to the34 presiding officers of each house of the General Assembly, who shall forward a copy of the35 report to the chairperson or chairpersons of the appropriate st anding committee or36 committees in each house that details the department's findings from the annual review37 required by this Code section, as well as any recommendations based upon such findings. 38 The department shall publish the annual report required by this subsection to its public39 website."40 H. B. 334 - 2 - 26 HB 334/AP SECTION 3.41 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.42 H. B. 334 - 3 -