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

26 LC 60 0272S Senate Bill 162 By: Senators Hufstetler of the 52nd, Watson of the 1st, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Tillery of the 19th and Walker III of the 20th AS PASSED A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Article 1 of Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the Official Co de of Georgia Annotated,1 relating to Georgia Composite Medical Board, so as to provide for the board to implement2 an automated licensing system for certain healthcare providers in this state; to provide for3 guidelines; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative declarations and intent; to4 provide for contingent effectiveness and automatic repeal; to provide for related matters; to5 repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:7 SECTION 1.8 This Act shall be known and may be cited as "The Paul Brock Act."9 SECTION 2.10 The Georgia Composite Medical Board has recently implemented a new data management11 system used in the licensing of healthcare providers. It is the intent of the General Assembly12 that this new system be further modified to allow healthcare providers to input credentialing13 information specific to their f acility with the outcome being t hat, once credentialed and14 S. B. 162 - 1 - 26 LC 60 0272S licensed in Georgia, the healthcare provider would be available to all healthcare facilities15 without the need for additional credentialing.16 SECTION 3.17 Article 1 of Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Geo rgia Annotated, relating to18 Georgia Composite Medical Board, is amended in Code Section 43-34-6, relating to board19 as an independent agency, executive director, meetings and hearings, licenses, certificates,20 and permits, investigations, venue, credit to veterans, and ann ual report, by adding new21 subsections to read as follows:22 "(k) No later than January 1, 2027, the board shall modify its data management software23 system to streamline and automate the licensing process for phy sicians, physician24 assistants, and anesthesiologist assistants. No later than January 1, 2027, such system shall25 be fully operational for other healthcare providers licensed by the board.26 (l) The system provided for in subsection (k) of this Code section may:27 (1) Organize, verify, and store the licenses of healthcare providers, allowing for a single28 verification process that results in authorization state wide, provided that a healthcare29 facility, licensee, or applicant inputs the credentialing infor mation and agrees to such30 authorization;31 (2) If available, be customizable so that a healthcare facilit y can add requirements to32 meet such facility's rules, regulations, or bylaws;33 (3) Allow any healthcare facility to accept the information for licensing as acceptance34 for credentialing and any healthcare provider to add additional requirements for35 credentialing in their facility;36 (4) Allow for administrative approval of licenses by the board to provide for physicians,37 physician assistants, and anesthesiologist assistants to be ava ilable for employment38 immediately upon meeting all requirements; and39 S. B. 162 - 2 - 26 LC 60 0272S (5) Perform any other functions the board deems necessary to i mprove licensing40 processes under this chapter."41 SECTION 4.42 This Act shall become effective only if funds are specifically appropriated for the purposes43 of such Act in an appropriations Act enacted by the General Ass embly and shall stand44 repealed by operation of law on December 31, 2030, if no such funding becomes available45 before such date.46 SECTION 5.47 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.48 S. B. 162 - 3 -