HB 866: Community Health, Department of; pilot program to improve management of inpatient insulin levels in rural hospital organizations; provide

Rural hospitals in Georgia sometimes lack the technology and specialty support to closely track and manage insulin levels for patients admitted for treatment, which can lead to adverse incidents and complicate care after discharge. This bill sets up a pilot program inside the Department of Community Health's Rural Health System Innovation Center to address that gap. The center could establish a grant program giving money to rural hospital organizations and physician groups to buy technology and equipment for tracking inpatient insulin, get specialty training, and share insulin management data with a patient's primary care doctor at discharge. The center would set its own grant criteria, favoring hospitals with many diabetic patients, technology commitments, partnerships with endocrinology experts, and discharge data-sharing plans. The pilot program and this new law section automatically repeal on January 1, 2027, after a report is due by December 31, 2026. The bill only takes effect if the General Assembly specifically funds it in an appropriations act.

• Creates a new pilot program within the Rural Health System Innovation Center to improve inpatient insulin management at rural hospitals.
• Authorizes the center to run a grant program giving money to rural hospital organizations and physician groups for insulin-tracking technology and training.
• Directs the center to set its own grant criteria, weighing diabetes rates, technology use, specialist partnerships, and discharge data-sharing plans.
• Requires a public report to state leaders by December 31, 2026 summarizing the pilot program's outcomes.
• Automatically repeals the pilot program and its authorizing law on January 1, 2027.
• Makes the entire law contingent on the General Assembly specifically appropriating funding for it.

Rural hospital organizations and their patients, especially those with diabetes; physician groups partnering with rural hospitals; primary care doctors who would receive discharge data; and the Department of Community Health's Rural Health System Innovation Center, which would run the program.

If funded, rural hospitals could get state grants to buy technology and training aimed at reducing insulin-related errors for admitted patients and improving follow-up care after discharge. Because the program expires in 2027, any benefits would be tied to this two-year test period.

• Section 1 amends the definitions section (O.C.G.A. § 31-2-2) to add 'Center' as the Rural Health System Innovation Center within the department's State Office of Rural Health.
• Section 2 adds new Code Section 31-2-16.1 establishing the pilot program to improve inpatient insulin management at rural hospital organizations.
• The center may create a grant program funding technology, software, equipment, and specialty consultation for tracking and managing inpatient insulin levels.
• Grant criteria must consider diabetes prevalence, use of technology-enabled tools, partnerships with endocrinology experts, and discharge data-sharing plans.
• The pilot program and Code Section 31-2-16.1 automatically repeal on January 1, 2027.
• A public report on the program's outcomes is due to the Governor, legislative leaders, relevant committees, and the Office of Health Strategy and Coordination by December 31, 2026.
• Section 3 makes the entire Act effective only if the General Assembly specifically appropriates funding for it in an Appropriations Act.

1. 2025-03-28House Second Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
2. 2025-03-27House First Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
3. 2025-03-25House Hopper (Cámara de Representantes)

• Matt Barton (R, HD-005)Patrocinador principal
• Darlene Taylor (R, HD-173)
• Lee Hawkins (R, HD-027)
• Sharon Cooper (R, HD-045)
• Mark Newton (R, HD-127)

• rural hospitals
• diabetes care
• hospital funding grants
• insulin management
• health care technology