SB162: SB162 Georgia Composite Medical Board; implement an automated credentialing system for healthcare providers in this state; provide

Georgia currently requires healthcare providers to go through separate credentialing at each facility where they work, even after they are licensed by the Georgia Composite Medical Board. Senate Bill 162, known as "The Paul Brock Act," directs the board to modify its existing data management software so that physicians, physician assistants, and anesthesiologist assistants can be licensed and credentialed through one automated system by January 1, 2027, with the system extended to other licensed healthcare providers by the same date. The system would let a healthcare facility, licensee, or applicant input credentialing information once, resulting in statewide authorization, while still allowing individual facilities to add their own extra requirements. The bill only takes effect if the General Assembly specifically appropriates funding for it in a future appropriations act, and it automatically repeals on December 31, 2030 if that funding never comes through.

• Requires the Georgia Composite Medical Board to modify its data management system to automate licensing for physicians, physician assistants, and anesthesiologist assistants by January 1, 2027.
• Extends the automated system to all other healthcare providers licensed by the board by the same January 1, 2027 deadline.
• Allows the system to store and verify a provider's license through a single process that can produce statewide credentialing authorization, if the facility or provider agrees.
• Lets individual healthcare facilities customize the system to add their own credentialing rules, regulations, or bylaws on top of the state licensing information.
• Allows the board to approve licenses administratively so covered providers can begin working immediately once they meet all requirements.
• Makes the entire Act take effect only if the legislature appropriates money for it, and repeals the Act automatically on December 31, 2030 if no funding is ever provided.

Physicians, physician assistants, anesthesiologist assistants, and other healthcare providers licensed by the Georgia Composite Medical Board, along with hospitals and other healthcare facilities that currently run their own separate credentialing checks on providers.

If funded, providers could move between Georgia healthcare facilities without repeating the credentialing process each time, potentially letting them start work sooner. Facilities would gain a shared verification tool but could still add their own extra requirements, and the whole change depends on the legislature setting aside money for it.

• Section 1 names the bill "The Paul Brock Act."
• Section 2 states the General Assembly's intent that the board's new data system let providers be credentialed once and then work at any facility without added credentialing.
• Section 3 amends O.C.G.A. § 43-34-6 by adding subsection (k), setting a January 1, 2027 deadline for automating licensing for physicians, physician assistants, and anesthesiologist assistants, and for other licensed providers.
• Section 3 also adds subsection (l), listing what the system may do: store and verify licenses for statewide authorization, allow facility customization, let facilities treat licensing as credentialing acceptance, permit administrative license approval, and perform other board-directed functions.
• Section 4 makes the entire Act contingent on the General Assembly appropriating specific funding for it, and provides for automatic repeal on December 31, 2030 if funding never materializes.
• Section 5 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-05Effective Date 2026-07-01
2. 2026-05-05Act 408
3. 2026-05-05Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
4. 2026-04-10Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
5. 2026-02-25Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub (Senate)
6. 2026-02-09House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
7. 2026-02-09House Third Readers (House)
8. 2026-02-04House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)

• Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-052)Primary sponsor
• Ben Watson (R, SD-001)
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)
• Blake Tillery (R, SD-019)
• Larry Walker (R, SD-020)
• Sharon Cooper (R, HD-045)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 6, 2025

   53 yea, 0 nay (3 not voting, 0 absent)

   Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #195

2. PassedHouse voteFebruary 9, 2026

   165 yea, 0 nay (4 not voting, 6 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #490

3. PassedSenate voteFebruary 25, 2026

   49 yea, 0 nay (5 not voting, 1 absent)

   Agree To House Substitute: Senate Vote #584

• medical licensing
• healthcare credentialing
• Georgia Composite Medical Board
• healthcare providers
• state funding