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

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 Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to Georgia Composite Medical Board, so as to provide for the board to implement an automated licensing system for certain healthcare providers in this state; to provide for guidelines; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative declarations and intent; to provide for contingent effectiveness and automatic repeal; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

This Act shall be known and may be cited as "The Paul Brock Act."

SECTION 2.

The Georgia Composite Medical Board has recently implemented a new data management system used in the licensing of healthcare providers. It is the intent of the General Assembly that this new system be further modified to allow healthcare providers to input credentialing information specific to their facility with the outcome being that, once credentialed and licensed in Georgia, the healthcare provider would be available to all healthcare facilities without the need for additional credentialing.

SECTION 3.

Article 1 of Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to Georgia Composite Medical Board, is amended in Code Section 43-34-6, relating to board as an independent agency, executive director, meetings and hearings, licenses, certificates, and permits, investigations, venue, credit to veterans, and annual report, by adding new subsections to read as follows:

"(k) No later than January 1, 2027, the board shall modify its data management software system to streamline and automate the licensing process for physicians, physician assistants, and anesthesiologist assistants. No later than January 1, 2027, such system shall be fully operational for other healthcare providers licensed by the board.

(l) The system provided for in subsection (k) of this Code section may:

(1) Organize, verify, and store the licenses of healthcare providers, allowing for a single verification process that results in authorization state wide, provided that a healthcare facility, licensee, or applicant inputs the credentialing information and agrees to such authorization;

(2) If available, be customizable so that a healthcare facility can add requirements to meet such facility's rules, regulations, or bylaws;

(3) Allow any healthcare facility to accept the information for licensing as acceptance for credentialing and any healthcare provider to add additional requirements for credentialing in their facility;

(4) Allow for administrative approval of licenses by the board to provide for physicians, physician assistants, and anesthesiologist assistants to be available for employment immediately upon meeting all requirements; and

(5) Perform any other functions the board deems necessary to improve licensing processes under this chapter."

SECTION 4.

This Act shall become effective only if funds are specifically appropriated for the purposes of such Act in an appropriations Act enacted by the General Assembly and shall stand repealed by operation of law on December 31, 2030, if no such funding becomes available before such date.

SECTION 5.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.