SB 162: Georgia Composite Medical Board; implement an automated credentialing system for healthcare providers in this state; provide

Right now, doctors, physician assistants, and other healthcare providers licensed by the Georgia Composite Medical Board often must go through separate credentialing at each hospital or clinic where they work, even after they already hold a state license. This bill directs the board to modify its existing data management system so that once a provider is credentialed and licensed, that information can be verified once and accepted statewide by any healthcare facility, as long as the facility, licensee, or applicant agrees. The upgraded system would let facilities add their own extra requirements on top of the state license, and it would allow the board to approve licenses administratively so physicians, physician assistants, and anesthesiologist assistants can start working as soon as they meet all requirements. The board must make this system operational for physicians, physician assistants, and anesthesiologist assistants by January 1, 2027, and for other licensed healthcare providers by the same date. The law only takes effect if the General Assembly specifically appropriates funding for it, and it automatically repeals on December 31, 2030 if that funding never comes through.

• Requires the Georgia Composite Medical Board to modify its data system to automate and streamline licensing for physicians, physician assistants, and anesthesiologist assistants by January 1, 2027.
• Extends that automated system requirement to all other healthcare providers licensed by the board by the same January 1, 2027 deadline.
• Allows a single statewide verification of a provider's license and credentials to substitute for separate credentialing at each healthcare facility, if the facility or provider agrees.
• Lets healthcare facilities customize the system to add their own extra credentialing requirements beyond the state license.
• Allows the board to approve licenses administratively so covered providers can start working as soon as they meet requirements.
• Makes the entire Act contingent on the General Assembly appropriating specific funding, and sets it to automatically repeal on December 31, 2030 if no funding is provided.

Physicians, physician assistants, anesthesiologist assistants, and other healthcare providers licensed by the Georgia Composite Medical Board; hospitals and other healthcare facilities that currently run their own separate credentialing processes; and the board itself, which must build and operate the new system.

If funded, the change could let licensed healthcare providers start working at new facilities faster by avoiding duplicate credentialing paperwork, while still letting individual facilities add their own extra requirements. Because the law depends on future state funding, its practical effect hinges on whether lawmakers actually appropriate money for it.

• Section 1 names the bill 'The Paul Brock Act.'
• Section 2 states the General Assembly's intent that the board's data system be modified so credentialed, licensed providers can work at any facility without additional credentialing.
• Section 3 adds new subsections (k) and (l) to O.C.G.A. § 43-34-6, setting a January 1, 2027 deadline for an automated licensing system covering physicians, physician assistants, and anesthesiologist assistants, and later other licensed providers.
• Subsection (l) lists what the system may do: organize and verify licenses for statewide authorization, allow facility-specific customization, let facilities treat licensing as credentialing, and allow administrative approval for immediate employment.
• Section 4 makes the Act effective only if the General Assembly specifically appropriates funds for it, and provides for automatic repeal on December 31, 2030 if no funding is appropriated by then.

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
• physician assistants
• state funding