HB 17: Public Health, Department of; carry out projects to increase education, awareness, or diagnosis of valvular heart disease; authorize

Valvular heart disease, a condition affecting the heart's valves that can lead to sudden cardiac death, currently has no dedicated state program in Georgia focused on public awareness or provider education. House Bill 17, called the 'Valvular Heart Health and Sudden Cardiac Death Prevention Act,' would add a new section to Georgia law authorizing the Department of Public Health to create projects that raise public awareness, improve diagnosis, and reduce sudden cardiac deaths linked to the disease. The department could run these projects itself or fund them through grants or contracts with public or nonprofit groups, and could offer technical help with planning and running them. Projects that reach populations most affected by the disease or that address disparities based on race, ethnicity, gender, or income would get priority. The department would also have to coordinate with other state agencies, collect research findings, and publish best practices online, which the Georgia Composite Medical Board would then distribute annually to all licensed physicians. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it.

• Authorizes the Department of Public Health to create projects for education, awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of valvular heart disease.
• Allows the department to run projects directly or fund them through grants or contracts with public or nonprofit organizations.
• Directs the department to prioritize projects that target populations most affected by the disease or that address health disparities based on race, ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic status.
• Requires the department to coordinate its efforts with other state agencies working on valvular heart disease.
• Requires the department to collect research findings and publish best practices for healthcare providers online, with the Georgia Composite Medical Board distributing that information to licensed physicians every year.

The Department of Public Health, which gains new program authority; public and nonprofit organizations that may receive grants or contracts; physicians and other healthcare providers who would receive annual best-practice information; and Georgians affected by valvular heart disease, particularly populations facing health disparities.

If enacted, Georgians with or at risk of valvular heart disease could see new state-funded awareness campaigns, better provider training, and improved tracking of cardiac arrest cases tied to the condition. Physicians statewide would begin receiving annually updated best-practice guidance from the Georgia Composite Medical Board.

• Section 1 names the act the 'Valvular Heart Health and Sudden Cardiac Death Prevention Act.'
• Section 2 adds new Code Section 31-1-26, directing the Department of Public Health to implement projects on education, diagnosis, treatment, and sudden cardiac death prevention related to valvular heart disease.
• Subsection (b) lists allowed project types: public education, improving diagnostic capability and treatment access, and surveillance of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests.
• Subsection (c) requires the department to prioritize grants and contracts for projects targeting affected populations or addressing health disparities.
• Subsection (d) requires coordination with other state agencies on valvular heart disease activities.
• Subsection (e) requires the department to collect research findings and publish best practices online, which the Georgia Composite Medical Board must distribute annually to all licensed physicians.
• Section 3 makes the act effective immediately upon the Governor's signature or upon becoming law without signature.

1. 2025-01-15House Second Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
2. 2025-01-14House First Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
3. 2025-01-13House Hopper (Cámara de Representantes)

• Kim Schofield (D, HD-063)Patrocinador principal
• Viola Davis (D, HD-087)
• Sandra Scott (D, HD-076)
• Billy Mitchell (D, HD-088)
• Derrick Jackson (D, HD-068)

• public health
• heart disease
• medical education
• health disparities
• state health programs