HR 8: State Workgroup to Increase Chronic Disease Information and Screenings in Communities of Color; support creation

This resolution does not create a new law but expresses the House of Representatives' support for setting up a State Workgroup to Increase Chronic Disease Information and Screenings in Communities of Color. The workgroup would be overseen jointly 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 workgroup would focus on projects to improve access to chronic disease information and screenings, including using telehealth and pairing screening information with vaccination visits. The resolution asks that a wide range of people be invited to participate, from patient advocates to medical professionals to representatives of rural and urban local governments and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The workgroup would be asked to report on its progress 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 oversight of the workgroup to the State Office of Rural Health and the Office of Minority Health within two state health departments.
• Directs the workgroup to develop projects using telehealth and to consider pairing chronic disease screening information with vaccination administration.
• Lists at least 12 categories of members the workgroup should invite, including patient groups, medical association representatives, nurse educators, faith based organizations, and rural and urban local government representatives.
• Requires the workgroup to report its progress to the House, Senate, and Governor within nine months of the resolution's adoption.
• Directs the Clerk of the House to send a copy of the resolution to the two overseeing state offices.

People living with chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease, especially in communities of color and rural areas; the Department of Community Health and Department of Public Health; medical associations, nurse educators, faith based organizations, federally qualified health centers, local governments, and Georgia's Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

If followed through, the workgroup could shape new state efforts to close health information and screening gaps for chronic diseases in minority and rural communities, potentially affecting how people access diagnosis and treatment resources, though the resolution itself only expresses support rather than mandating funding or action.

• Paragraph 1 supports creating the Workgroup by name.
• Paragraph 2 places oversight with the State Office of Rural Health (Department of Community Health) and the Office of Minority Health (Department of Public Health).
• Paragraph 3 directs the Workgroup to focus on projects to increase chronic disease information and screenings, including telehealth.
• Paragraph 4 asks the Workgroup to consider delivering chronic disease screening information alongside vaccination administration.
• Paragraph 5 lists at least 12 specific categories of members to invite, such as patient organization representatives, a Medical Association of Georgia representative, and a state legislator from a district with significant minority population.
• Paragraph 6 requires a progress report to the House, Senate, and Governor within nine months of adoption.
• The closing clause directs the Clerk of the House to distribute a copy 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 policy