Comité Health de la Cámara de Representantes, 28 de enero de 2026

Transcripción

269 turnos. Seleccione un tiempo para reproducir ese momento del video.

1. 0:00:01

   Okay. Uh, it is 2:00. We're gonna go ahead and get started. Um, Senator Hofstadler has a finance meeting, so we're gonna have his bill up first. And you're at the mic. Uh, gee, we changed mics around. How about right next to, uh, Scoggins? Oh, and before, excuse me, before we do that, we have a new member, uh, Eric Geisler.

2. 0:00:30

   Gisler, Rob.

3. 0:00:30

   Gisler. Okay. Eric Gisler. You wanna tell us something about you? What, what, uh... C- push your button and so I see you li- You, yeah, go ahead. Go ahead.

4. 0:00:42

   Uh, yeah. Thank you for the welcome. Uh, wow, this is a big room. Uh, I'm Eric Gisler, newly elected just last month, sworn in at the beginning of this month, and here I am at my second committee meeting. So, thank you. Uh, I'm representing Oconee County, or most of Oconee County, and a small part of Athens-Clarke County. Uh, and I'm happy to be here. Thank you.

5. 0:01:01

   You're welcome. I just found a note to do that. Uh, okay. Uh, Senator Hofstadler, go ahead. I think, uh, are you one... I, uh-

6. 0:01:13

   Yes. Uh, it says witness one.

7. 0:01:15

   Yeah. Okay, good.

8. 0:01:17

   Court here, I guess.

9. 0:01:18

   Right. Just what it says here.

10. 0:01:20

    All right. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, this bill, and I'm, I'm operating off of 56-0521S. Is that the one?

11. 0:01:28

    Correct.

12. 0:01:28

    Okay.

13. 0:01:29

    Correct. Uh-huh.

14. 0:01:30

    And it is a substitute. Well, this passed out of this committee unanimously last year, and like some other bills didn't, didn't make it through for, for various reasons. But, um, we did a substitute because we've been asked to clarify some things.

15. 0:01:44

    I, I don't know if that mic is on. Can you pull it to you?

16. 0:01:49

    I don't know. This says one, but maybe it's not.

17. 0:01:53

    It's not... No, it's not coming through. How about, uh, Gisler's?

18. 0:01:56

    Here.

19. 0:01:57

    Here. Can, can you... Yeah. Let's use that one.

20. 0:02:02

    All right. I'll slide over here. Okay.

21. 0:02:07

    Sorry about that. No.

22. 0:02:10

    As, as I'd said, this had, had passed unanimously out of the committee. Um, we had had a couple of concerns that wanted to make sure that out-of-state physicians wouldn't be doing that and, and large groups, so we did change some language a little bit, and so that's the reason for the substitute. But I'll quickly go through it. I don't wanna belabor it since the committee heard already. But this is, as you see in line three, this is for pre-exposure prophylaxis and post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV medicine.

23. 0:02:43

    And a lot of this medicine can, can be about $26 versus, um, not only the quality of life, but the cost of an HIV infection, which can be from the 400,000 to a million dollar range to treat. And so it certainly will save the State of Georgia tens of millions of dollars. Now, in the meantime, when this bill didn't get through the process, the Department of Public Health issued an emergency standing order for the post-exposure that would allow that to be given out, and I believe that's still in effect from, uh, Department of Public Health.

24. 0:03:18

    But going on with the bill, um, line 30, 31 there, we define who is a pharmacist and that they are located in the State of Georgia. Going over to the next, page 52, we set out what the training program is for these pharmacists. And 61, that they would give at least a 30-day supply and up to a 90-day supply of the pre-exposure medicine. Um, line 77, this is under the protocol of a physician who resides in the State of Georgia.

25. 0:03:50

    On 77, we say that he notifies the primary care provider of what's going on. And also, if they don't have a physician, on line 80, we give them a list of physicians, encouraging them to have a physician, uh, that they attend to. I'll skip the definitions and go on to line 129, which again, it says the physician resides in Georgia, and of course, the pharmacist has to be currently certified in basic cardiac life support as well.

26. 0:04:23

    That, uh, line 131, they have a protocol agreement in place. And, um, line, uh, 162 requires the pharmacist to notify the recipient's primary care provider, line 163, within 72 hours of administration. Um, I'm not sure why we have to put this in, but just in case, on line 169, this isn't drive by medicine. You can't give it to them as they're passing by in their car.

27. 0:04:53

    So, uh, uh, this is, this is an in-person visit. Um, line 172, they have to stay there for at least 15 minutes as we do with a lot of other vaccines and stuff we give- ... make sure there's no reaction to it. Line 178, they have to have liability insurance of a minimum of a quarter, uh, $250 million. And, um, they have to notify, they have to have, 185, their proof of, uh, their protocol agreement listed.

28. 0:05:31

    Again, basic life cardiac support, line 193, 194. Um, going to line 232, it says a delegating physician can enter into agreement with more than 10 pharmacists at any one time. So again, this isn't, you know, we're, we're not trying to make a big, somebody who just does this, that, that it needs to be a, a personal relationship with them. And then near the end, on line 272- We say a code section that says that if they're not following procedure, they can be fined up to $2,500, and there's different fines laid out, uh, including that you can't administer it for up to a year if there's any violations of the rules or you, for both the pharmacist and the pharmacy, and that, um, you could be prohibited from administering at all.

29. 0:06:28

    So, you know, a lot of times rules are in place, but there's no consequences if you don't follow the rules. We, we want to make sure there were consequences in there. Um, and working on this with the chairman some more, we did find out that, uh, there were a couple of things where the, in line one, on line 30 and 121, the definitions had a couple of things that were just slightly off. So at the appropriate time, if it's okay with the chairman of the committee, I would like to offer an amendment to make sure we clarify that.

30. 0:07:01

    And with that, I'll stop talking and answer any questions.

31. 0:07:04

    I know you got a question. Uh, Mr. New Webster is made the chairman.

32. 0:07:08

    Uh, Chairman, thank you, Chairman. Thank, thank you, Chairman Hustedler for this. This, um, I appreciate in line 232 that, that one to 10, that avail- ability for a physician, that, that, I appreciate you tightening that up or being willing to, to make sure that, um, like you mentioned, that, that real relationship is there. Somebody who knows your name, knows your phone number, if you're the pharmacist calling, and that, that I think tightens up the ability. While in rare cases these can have side effects, the overall benefit I think outweighs a rare side effect. In particular, if you know you have a, a physician hopefully nearby, I think we added residing in Georgia at the chairman's discretion.

33. 0:07:42

    Mm-hmm.

34. 0:07:42

    So that makes sure it's not an out-of-state telemedicine doctor who may or may not be available, uh, to, to one of these patients who's getting this medicine. So I appreciate you making those changes, and, uh, the appropriate time, I'd like to move to pass.

35. 0:07:55

    Okay. Uh, first we'll, uh, move the bill. Do I hear a motion?

36. 0:07:59

    Move, so move.

37. 0:08:00

    Oh, excuse me. Any other questions? Sorry. I've got another... Who's number one?

38. 0:08:05

    Clark.

39. 0:08:06

    Representative Clark.

40. 0:08:07

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, that's why when he said he was number one I was confused, 'cause I was number one. All right, um-

41. 0:08:12

    I'm just looking at a board up here. Uh, obviously they moved mics around.

42. 0:08:16

    Uh, no problem. All right. So, um, in the state of Georgia, we have a pretty high, uh, HIV, uh, rate, and I believe that our state has one of the highest, um, rates of new HIV cases. And so I do think that this is a very good, um, legislation. I'm very happy to see it. Um, just question why, again, are we limiting this to just, um, um, doctors or physicians and pharmacists in Georgia when we have a lot of people who technically don't have primary care physicians and do use telehealth or do use, like, online services because that's the only thing that's financially accessible to them?

43. 0:08:58

    Well, I, I think the, the, the comments I got was they wanted to make sure that this wasn't, uh, just something run out of state, that it was our physicians that were supervising this. There, there can be the rare side effects and s- and things from this, and that they have a relationship with a pharmacist. I think that that's something that could be looked at later on, but I think we get this program growing. And you're right, we have a high infection rate. Um, we can, we can save, in my opinion, tens of millions of dollars by doing this, and also we can lower the pool of people who can infect people by doing this as well.

44. 0:09:34

    So it's, it's quality of life for people in Georgia, and it's, uh, saving the state of Georgia money. Um, I would-

45. 0:09:42

    Oh.

46. 0:09:42

    This has been over a year. I really would like to get this bill out and, and look at other changes later on if we can do that.

47. 0:09:48

    Thank you.

48. 0:09:48

    I agree with you, Mr. Chair, Senator. Okay. Seeing no other questions, do I hear a motion on the bill?

49. 0:09:55

    So moved.

50. 0:09:55

    Do pass.

51. 0:09:56

    Do I hear a second?

52. 0:09:57

    Second.

53. 0:09:58

    Okay, we have the motion. Now, let's, uh, consider the amendments. You have the amendments in your packet.

54. 0:10:04

    Um-

55. 0:10:04

    Do I hear a motion on the amendments?

56. 0:10:06

    I'll move.

57. 0:10:08

    Do I hear a second?

58. 0:10:08

    Second.

59. 0:10:09

    All those in favor of the amendments, say aye.

60. 0:10:12

    Aye.

61. 0:10:12

    All those opposed? Back to the main bill. All those in favor of the bill as amended, say aye.

62. 0:10:19

    Aye.

63. 0:10:19

    All those opposed, say nay. All right. Congratulations, M- uh-

64. 0:10:25

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman

65. 0:10:25

    ... Senator Hustedler. We, you have a due pass on LC560521S as amended.

66. 0:10:33

    All right. Thanks for the committee's time.

67. 0:10:36

    Oh, and your house member is carrying the bill.

68. 0:10:40

    Yeah, Senator. I don't-

69. 0:10:41

    Still

70. 0:10:41

    ... Representative Newton. Yeah.

71. 0:10:42

    Still Representative Newton. Thank you. Okay. Uh, up next is, uh, House Bill 522. Representative Gullett.

72. 0:11:00

    Chairman, do I turn this mic over to you?

73. 0:11:02

    No, I... He'll need to use it.

74. 0:11:04

    Oh, all right.

75. 0:11:05

    Yeah.

76. 0:11:08

    Welcome. You get to be pals with all of us today.

77. 0:11:13

    All right. Thank you, Chairman. Thank you, members of the committee. Uh, House Bill, House Bill 522, LC339780. This bill you've seen a few different times, uh, come through this committee, um, and pass. Uh, just a little background. Gracie's Law was passed by representative, then Representative, uh, Rick Williams, um, where it made fairness, um, to organ transplants for those with disabilities. Um, this bill just adjusts that to include, um, that you can't deny a transplant to someone solely based on their COVID-19 vaccination status.

78. 0:11:53

    Solely based is the key here. That's on line, I think, 81. Um,

79. 0:12:01

    yeah, line 81. "A covered entity shall not, solely on the basis of individual's disability or vaccine, vaccine status..." So what we're looking to do is to not, um, have an assessment where you meet every criteria, you are a good candidate for an organ transplant, you have a, a person to give you the organ, um, everything aligns other than your COVID-19 vaccination status. Um, and this is something that this committee's passed, uh, two previous times. The House passed it, not this last year, but this, the session before.

80. 0:12:34

    Um, and we're looking to, to finally get this thing done.

81. 0:12:38

    Okay. Um, you have a question? Okay. Uh, how about taking that mic right there.

82. 0:12:46

    Thank you.

83. 0:12:48

    Yeah.

84. 0:12:48

    Representative, I do recall, I don't, I think, hold on. I do recall we've had this bill in here before, or something similar anyway-

85. 0:12:54

    Yeah

86. 0:12:54

    ... about this. Uh, it, to me, it's troubling. I mean, it s- sends a signal that the COVID vaccine is not important, and it's extremely important. It sends a signal that vaccines in general are not important, and they're very important. Uh, but wouldn't it be better if the legislation said that, uh, if for some reason, I mean, this would be, this would be the effect, but if, a- a- but only if there was some religious reason or some particular reason that they didn't get the vaccination. I mean, for some particular reason, religious or something that would, uh, exempt somebody from, uh, getting the vaccination, I can see that.

87. 0:13:31

    But just saying that just because somebody didn't wanna get it, and there's a lot of anti-vaccine people that just don't wanna get vaccines, just because of that, by God, you gotta go ahead and make them eligible for it. I mean, wouldn't that be better to have some kind of conditions in there?

88. 0:13:45

    Well, I, I appreciate that. So I think we can all agree that, that the COVID vaccination for, for real reasons or non-real reasons became politicized. Um, I believe that it was really, you know, people didn't get the vaccination sometimes not necessarily because they're against vaccinations. They've, they maybe get the flu vaccine. But the COVID vaccine is one that became politicized, and it became something different than most vaccinations, um, that we've gotten. I don't think, uh, that the an- this is an anti-vaccination piece of legislation.

89. 0:14:18

    If it was, I would've just said, you know, "You can't discriminate solely based on any vaccination status." It's not that. It's solely on COVID-19 because it did become politicized.

90. 0:14:27

    Exactly.

91. 0:14:27

    So, um, I, I think that's actually a narrowing instead of a... You know, you can't say this is an anti-vaxxer, uh, bill. This is really... I, I don't think that the COVID vacci- COVID-19 vaccination, which I got, I'm not an anti... I did get the COVID-19. I got the boosters. Would I do it again? I'm not sure. Um, but at the time, I thought it was the right decision to make.

92. 0:14:45

    Well, if I may ask one follow-up.

93. 0:14:47

    Yeah, go ahead.

94. 0:14:47

    And that is, isn't, isn't the very f- fact that it was politicized, that's the very reason that we probably should not pass this bill? That if, just because it was politicized, and, uh, oh my God, this is terrible, uh, even though it was one of the most important vaccinations anybody could take.

95. 0:15:05

    Right.

96. 0:15:05

    I mean, it was a serious thing. I think people have forgotten how serious-

97. 0:15:08

    Yeah

98. 0:15:09

    ... how packed our hospitals were, how many people died. I have at least five friends that died from COVID, including my, uh, uh, my daughter, by the way.

99. 0:15:15

    Mm-hmm.

100. 0:15:15

     And to, to put this in there, I... These are the same things I've said before when we had it in here, but I just wish that, uh... I, I, I know it's, I know it's important to you and some people that have brought it to you, but I don't think it's a, I don't think it's the right thing for us to do to say that vaccinations in particular, when it's so important, and it's still important to this day. It's not important. No, don't worry about it.

101. 0:15:35

     Well-

102. 0:15:35

     You know? Don't, it doesn't make any difference if you got it or not.

103. 0:15:38

     Sure. And I, I appreciate your passion, and I, I'm so sorry about, about your family, your daughter, and, and your friends. I had friends, um, pass from COVID who had vaccinations even. Um, but I would say, um... Yeah, I appreciate your passion. I don't think this is a, a, this... If every, if you meet the criteria, the COVID-19 vaccination should not solely... You meet every, everything else that, that the medical facility requires except for your COVID-19, maybe policy-wise, we disagree. That is a determining factor of whether you're gonna get this life-saving organ or not.

104. 0:16:11

     Uh, I don't believe that that is, should be the sole determining factor. Everything else being equal, you have, you have a good chance of survival. You have... You know, if you've done everything else, and COVID-19 is your only hindrance, uh, that's a problem for me. And I realize it might not be a problem for you, and I appreciate that.

105. 0:16:25

     No, I appreciate you very much. You know, you're one of my favorite legislators.

106. 0:16:29

     I just-

107. 0:16:29

     But I just don't agree with you on this particular issue.

108. 0:16:31

     No, sir. I, I understand that.

109. 0:16:33

     Representative Clark.

110. 0:16:39

     You can't have it back.

111. 0:16:44

     Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And, um, thank you, uh, for explaining the bill. I have to say that I agree that we should not let politici- politicization of a issue wa- outweigh scientific and medical foundation. Um, but my question is actually just more very, very technical. Um, people who get COVID-19, now we have a lot of therapies and things like that for it, but the people who are most vulnerable to succumbing to COVID-19 are those who are immunocompromised.

112. 0:17:22

     And people who get organ transplants have to go on immunosuppressants, because otherwise, their body will reject the transplant. And with us having a limited number of transplants, we run the risk of there being basically organ transplant failure, where we give this very limited resource, life-saving resource, to a person who will not do one of the steps that is necessary to basically stay alive and make sure that we don't have a failure.

113. 0:17:57

     So what would you say to the patients who are also on the list that are completely compliant, including taking the COVID-19 vaccine, but are behind a person who refuses- And then that person who refuses just happens to get COVID and dies, and that is a transplant that that next person now did not have an option or availability to get. How would you respond to those people?

114. 0:18:21

     Yeah. So I would respond by saying, one, I don't believe COVID-19 should be the sole discriminating factor, the only discriminating factor. So everything else being equal, I think you're in the line. Uh, I can appreciate people who've gotten the COVID-19 vaccination. Again, I got it. I can appreciate the people who didn't get it because they thought it was, they thought it was best for them not to get because of the, whatever was going on at the time. So I, I don't, I don't believe that because you got the COVID-19 vaccination, and that's the only d- difference, um, that, you know, you're, uh, you should be behind someone who did, um, for an organ transplant, something as important as an organ transplant.

115. 0:18:59

     Can I ask just one quick follow-up? Very quick, I promise. We talk about the politicalization of vaccines. Currently, we have a head of HHS who has made the measles vaccine, the MMR, also very political, while measles is the most, um, contagious virus on the planet. If the MMR vaccine also becomes politicized, do we run the risk of now seeing bills that say, "Oh, a person who's not vaccinated against the most contagious virus in the world should also not, that should also not be a consideration"?

116. 0:19:39

     Are we starting a snowball effect where now we can start adding to whatever political virus of the day?

117. 0:19:49

     So I can't answer that. That's not one that, that's, that is my, I haven't heard the political s- things about the measles, um, vaccination. What I will say is that the conversation in this committee has changed over the years. Initially, it was said that this doesn't actually happen. Uh, can you show me any facilities that have discriminated against someone with organ transplant who hasn't received the COVID-19 vaccination? That was the argument initially. Now, it sounds like we're okay with, you know, it wasn't needed. It wasn't happening. Now, it sounds like we're okay with it happening, um, just, you know, a year later.

118. 0:20:23

     So I don't know. I, it's not something that's, that's, that's part of this bill. This bill is strictly to the COVID-19 vaccination. Um, but, you know, everyone's free to drop their bills, and so I c- I can't speak to that.

119. 0:20:35

     Thank you.

120. 0:20:35

     Mm-hmm.

121. 0:20:36

     Well, I would say this. Uh, I would say this. Y- you know, COVID is similar to a retrovirus in that it replicates and changes its structure so quickly. It's like what we're doing for the flu vaccine now. You can get a flu vaccine, and it may not even match what's out, out there today. So, um, I tend to agree, um, with the presenter. I think, um, this would be,

122. 0:21:04

     it would limit the ability of people to, to have organ transplants, and I just don't see us limiting people to have a chance at life because of a vaccine. That's my personal opinion, and I don't say my personal opinion here too often.

123. 0:21:21

     Thank you for your thoughts.

124. 0:21:22

     Are there any more questions? I hear none.

125. 0:21:25

     I got one.

126. 0:21:25

     Oh, okay.

127. 0:21:27

     Yeah, um, so forgive me. I'm, I'm coming up to speed. Um, but I, I see the statement in support here from the Georgia Faith and Freedom Coalition. Is there any such statement from a medical body that suggests that it's safe to do this?

128. 0:21:43

     I didn't know Faith and Freedom gave a, a letter of, that, I'm not in the committee, so I didn't see that. Uh, I didn't request any from any medical bodies.

129. 0:21:51

     Thank you.

130. 0:21:54

     Seeing no other questions, do I hear a motion?

131. 0:21:56

     So moved.

132. 0:21:57

     Oh, oh, excuse me. Oh, oh, oh, okay. We have someone who wants to speak to, to the, uh, bill. Teresa Patel?

133. 0:22:05

     Where's the best place for me to... I can stay here if you'd like. I've got a good view.

134. 0:22:09

     Uh, no, you need to speak-

135. 0:22:10

     Use the microphone

136. 0:22:10

     ... on the microphone.

137. 0:22:11

     Thank you.

138. 0:22:11

     Come up to that. And I apologize, but, uh-

139. 0:22:15

     You might need to take a look at the screen.

140. 0:22:16

     Mm-hmm.

141. 0:22:18

     Thank you very much for the opportunity to share my story with you. Uh, my name is Teresa Patel. I'm a wife and a mother to seven young children who are here in the room with me today. A few years ago, you may have known me as Jane Doe, uh, in a story about a 41-year-old mother who was denied an evaluation for a kidney transplant due to her decision to decline the COVID vaccine. At the a-, um, at, in 2022, at the age of 40, and in good health with a low-risk lifestyle and no other contributing health factors, I experienced sudden and acute kidney failure.

142. 0:22:56

     I began the journey of dialysis and seeking a kidney transplant to save my life and watch my children grow up. Other than my lack of kidney function, I was in good health. Uh, following my initial consultation with the transplant team, my nurse said I checked every box. Those were her exact words. Towards the end of our conversation, she informed me of the hospital's policy that all potential recipients receive the COVID vaccine. And when I asked to understand the policy better, um, her response was simply, "That's just our policy." She told me that I had time to think about it, but continuing the evaluation process would not be necessary if I had no plans to get the vaccine, and my status would be terminated with no appeal, even with recommendations against it from my own primary care physician, a positive antibody test, and a religious exemption letter from my pastor based on my moral convictions against taking a vaccine developed using aborted fetal cells.

143. 0:23:55

     Among some members of Congress, my existence was allegedly debated, along with whether patients were even being denied transplants based on their vaccination status. Uh, in fact, two years ago, a representative from Georgia insisted that it was not happening, and then argued against these protections, saying that it was wrong-minded and sought to legislate medicine. and compared those who declined the COVID vaccine to alcoholics, smokers, and IV drug users. My vaccination status was the only reason that I was denied.

144. 0:24:31

     I've been asked why I wouldn't just get the vaccine, and my reasons are here in this room with me today. Because if I'm not willing to speak up, then what battles am I leaving for them to have to fight? Passing this bill is so important because it protects the medical and religious freedoms of the people that, that you serve, and I just, um, I urge you to give your support to this.

145. 0:25:04

     Thank you.

146. 0:25:05

     Thank you. I appreciate it. Okay. Uh, we have no one else l- on the list to speak to the bill. Uh, no other questions. Do I hear a motion?

147. 0:25:16

     So moved.

148. 0:25:17

     Second? All those in favor say aye. Aye. All those opposed say nay. Nay. Oh, okay. Let's have a show of hands. All those in favor, raise your hand.

149. 0:25:35

     What you got?

150. 0:25:37

     11.

151. 0:25:38

     All those against?

152. 0:25:44

     Six. 11 to six. Okay. Uh, th- the motion does pass. Uh, congratulations, you have your bill. I can't. It's too late.

153. 0:25:58

     I-

154. 0:25:58

     Uh, congratulations, you have your bill, LC339780.

155. 0:26:03

     Thank you so much.

156. 0:26:04

     You're welcome. Okay. Um, next bill up is HB629. We're not gonna hear, hear that bill today. Uh, that's had action taken today in the Senate, uh, on House Bill 148. Our next bill after that is HB878. Um, we're gonna... We could do a hearing, or, uh... Is the author still here or is he gone? He left. Okay, author's left, so we will not be hearing 878.

157. 0:26:36

     Up next is HB951. Representative Clark. You can do it for me if you'd like. Can you press your button so I know which number you are?

158. 0:26:47

     Yes, sir.

159. 0:26:47

     Go ahead. Gotcha.

160. 0:26:50

     478?

161. 0:26:52

     Awesome. Thanks, Chairman and committee members. I have, uh, bring you House Bill 951, LC520886. And last year we passed, I think it was unanimous, maybe, maybe one no vote in the House, um, it got signed by the governor. It was to allow, um, prosthetics and orthotics, um, to, to increase it on the insurance companies. It used to be one every, I think it was five years, um, one prosthesis, and now it's, um, you can get up to three, um, which we passed through.

162. 0:27:24

     But that was just for the insurance companies. Um, we had pulled back the state healthcare benefits 'cause we needed a fiscal note. We got one, but we need to w- re, uh, work it. Um, we're still waiting for the new fiscal note. Um, it should've been done, but it's in the process of being done. Um, but it simply just adds it to the stel- state healthcare plan, brings parity across the board for everyone.

163. 0:27:44

     Right.

164. 0:27:44

     And we heard last year from Mohammed Massaquoi, Jared Wallace, both UJ graduates, um, and then from little Elliot, you know, who was six years old, who came here and testified.

165. 0:27:53

     Sure, sure.

166. 0:27:54

     Um, so it's just bringing parity across the board, um, and would love to get your support and answer any questions you might have. And, and Devin can tell, to those who were not here on the committee, when you heard the stories last year, I mean, it was so powerful. I mean, even, you know, these people who, you know, maybe losing a limb, you know, they're just like all of us. They wanna go work, give back, and we heard one story that was really impactful on top of Jared Wallace, the four-time Paralympian, Mo- Mohammed Massaquoi, um, and from Elliot. But this one man, how he was a traveling salesman, and usually when you have just, like one standard prosthesis, you can't go shower with it and all that, and he had to take a travel chair, and he opened it in the shower to take a shower.

167. 0:28:34

     It broke. He had to crawl out, put his prosthesis back on, go to Home Depot, get a five, a five-gallon bucket, bring it back to sit down and take a shower. Um, so this allows, you know, whether taking a shower, exercising, um, so they can just live normal lives and be a part of society. So would love to gain your support.

168. 0:28:52

     Okay. Let me say this to the committee. Since we don't have a fiscal note, this will be a hearing only today. I just don't wanna pass a bill out and send it to Rules f- uh, and then the Rules chairman have to, uh, deal with that and also hold the bill. We can't take, put something on the floor without a fiscal note and know how much, how much it's gonna cost. Uh, so but today's a good day to be asking questions. If that fiscal note comes back, and when it does, we can have the bill back in committee and, and pass it quickly out of committee.

169. 0:29:22

     Today we have the more time. As we all know, as, uh, we go through the session, we'll be more crowded with bills and, uh, the time becomes more premium. Uh, I've got, oh, 10 is off, uh, one's off, so we have no, no questions.

170. 0:29:38

     Aye.

171. 0:29:38

     Patty Stinson, what, what is-

172. 0:29:41

     Yes.

173. 0:29:41

     Do you wanna-

174. 0:29:41

     So I just have a question, quick question

175. 0:29:42

     ... Representative Stinson.

176. 0:29:43

     Uh-huh, I'm on one. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

177. 0:29:45

     Yeah.

178. 0:29:45

     And thank you, Representative, for bringing this legislation up. I'm sorry I wasn't here last year to, um, witness the testimonies. Uh, and I do sym- sympathize with the individuals that may be, um, having to endure such situations. But can you explain to me, um, with w- what's going on now? Without this legislation, what, what's going on now with, with individuals? How, how... Explain to me exactly how this le- legislation is going to, um, make a real difference in their lives.

179. 0:30:14

     Yeah, so, so right now with the commercial plans, insurance companies, those people who are on them, they're able to get the additional prosthesis. But right now the state plan, those who are on it, state employees, all that, they cannot get it. So they're exempt from it unless we pass this, so it's parity across the board. So everyone in Georgia can participate and get a additional prosthesis.

180. 0:30:35

     So you're saying those that on state health benefit plan-

181. 0:30:37

     Cannot get it. Cannot get.

182. 0:30:38

     Cannot get it, but if they working somewhere else and had a reg- another insurance company.

183. 0:30:41

     They can. And we put it back last year just because w- we working on the physical note and all that, and we didn't wanna hold it up 'cause it, it at least is helping a lot of people in Georgia.

184. 0:30:50

     Okay.

185. 0:30:50

     And now this is just a cleanup to get it so everyone is on equal, um, grounds.

186. 0:30:55

     Okay.

187. 0:30:56

     All right.

188. 0:30:56

     All right, thank you for that.

189. 0:30:58

     Uh, is that Representative Geisler? Gisler?

190. 0:31:02

     Yeah.

191. 0:31:02

     Oh, okay, go ahead. Oh, do you have a question? The mic's...

192. 0:31:07

     No.

193. 0:31:07

     No, no one over there has a question, okay. Okay. Mathiak.

194. 0:31:13

     Thank you.

195. 0:31:13

     Representative Mathiak.

196. 0:31:14

     Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, uh, representative, tell, help me to understand how often, um, a person that needs a prosthetic, how often do they get a new prosthetic? Is it every... Uh, just ballpark it for me.

197. 0:31:31

     So right now, I mean, right now they can get a, uh, up to three every three years. Um-

198. 0:31:36

     Every three years.

199. 0:31:37

     Yeah. But it used to be one. And so what was holding them back, and all the stories that we heard last year-

200. 0:31:44

     Right

201. 0:31:44

     ... you know, it's usually a standard. You can't go take a shower, you can't go work out, you know, like little Elliot, you know, the six-year-old, you know, being able to go play on the playground recess with his, um, other twin, you know, his friends. Um, so it was-

202. 0:31:55

     Right

203. 0:31:55

     ... to allow based on a doctor's recommendations. Um, and we had the outlines was from the VA. Um-

204. 0:32:01

     Okay

205. 0:32:01

     ... so the same guidelines. So now they can go work out, go take a shower, live life normal like all of us.

206. 0:32:07

     S- Mr. Chair?

207. 0:32:09

     What? Yeah.

208. 0:32:09

     Um, so, uh, some, an adult, would they need a new prosthetic every three years, or would it be longer? W- what would, what would-

209. 0:32:19

     I mean, right now they could get-

210. 0:32:21

     Approximate

211. 0:32:21

     ... three every three years. Um, a- and a lot of times, I mean, these can break.

212. 0:32:27

     Right.

213. 0:32:27

     You know, um, you know, they're using it daily.

214. 0:32:30

     Right.

215. 0:32:30

     Um, so they wear out and all that.

216. 0:32:32

     Sure.

217. 0:32:32

     So it's just keeping up to, again, going to the doctor, the doctor recommending it based on, you know, the, um, requirements and all that.

218. 0:32:39

     Lifestyle.

219. 0:32:39

     Yeah, lifestyle.

220. 0:32:40

     Gotcha. So really it's ap- it's approximately three years is what... I mean, that's pretty long-term.

221. 0:32:46

     Yeah. If they need it, yeah, based on-

222. 0:32:47

     Right

223. 0:32:47

     ... the doctor, they can get an additional-

224. 0:32:49

     Thank you

225. 0:32:50

     ... I think a three a year.

226. 0:32:51

     Okay. We've got two folks who would like to speak to this issue. Rachel Air.

227. 0:32:56

     Yes, sir.

228. 0:32:57

     Yeah.

229. 0:32:57

     Just right here?

230. 0:32:58

     Yeah.

231. 0:32:58

     Okay.

232. 0:32:59

     Yeah.

233. 0:33:02

     Let me make sure the button... I always

234. 0:33:07

     Thank you.

235. 0:33:07

     Sure.

236. 0:33:07

     Of course. Go right ahead.

237. 0:33:10

     Thank you.

238. 0:33:11

     No, I'm up here.

239. 0:33:12

     Oh, yeah.

240. 0:33:15

     Uh, I appreciate-

241. 0:33:16

     My wife was right.

242. 0:33:17

     Mr.

243. 0:33:17

     Yeah, he's it.

244. 0:33:20

     All right. Number one, good number.

245. 0:33:21

     Yeah.

246. 0:33:21

     All right. Uh, thank you committee for having me here. Chairman Hawkins, thank you again for having me in your committee. Um, I wanted to answer your question, uh, representative. So of course the, the law does state right now that up to three years, however, if physiological change happens, which is very normal for athletic people, uh, they would be able to have it every six months is typically what the Medicare guidelines state. Now granted, that would be with a physician's recommendation and referral. These are not made based off of a licensed certified prosthetist, orthotist recommendation.

247. 0:33:52

     They're always in conjunction with a physician. Uh, that's current Georgia law. We did not amend any of the laws. Uh, and by we, I mean you all. Um, so, uh, we just keep everything exactly the same except the definition of medically necessary. So if you were here last session, it was fun to bring all of our friends in, and they could talk about what was deemed medically necessary. At the time, Georgia law really followed all other laws that allowed for insurance companies to deny medically necessary based off of a prosthetist and a physician's recommendation, showering, playing.

248. 0:34:29

     Uh, the patient that we referred to, uh, Representative Clark said, is a patient in the clinic my husband I own. Uh, Mr. Kimbrell du- did want a shower prosthesis, but Bl- Blue Cross Blue Shield would not allow that. So now in the state of Georgia, which has passed, it is a paramount piece of legislation that I'm incredibly proud our state is the only state in the southeast that got this done in a fiscally responsible way. Uh, we are able to do that. And so currently I'm working with the insurance commissioner's office, and we are writing, uh, powerful rules for submission of billing to avoid administrative burden.

249. 0:35:02

     Um, of course, I did bring more friends today, people who actually work in, uh, the state health, um, well, actually she has state health, but she's a teacher. And so part of my testimony today is just to remind everybody that nobody is one-dimensional. Um, as you see in the pictures that have been handed out to you, sorry, I didn't bring enough for the whole class. Uh, but everybody ...

250. 0:35:26

     Thank you.

251. 0:35:27

     Uh, so everyone here has multiple functions. No one here is just one person. You all serve here as representatives, but you go home and you're a family. Some of you have families, uh, children. Uh, our, uh, testimony today is from Hannah Neighbors, and I won't take all of her testimony, and I know we're short on time. But she is a wife, a mother, a daughter, coach, athlete. Uh, Hannah was hit by a vehicle, uh, by someone who was driving under the influence of drugs and lost her leg below the knee.

252. 0:35:59

     Uh, the only problem that she really faced was she c- didn't know how she was gonna run. The town of Rome, Georgia, hosted a fundraiser so she could get a running prosthesis. Uh, our clinic gets to serve her in this capacity, but because she's a special education teacher, she is not eligible for coverage for any other devices. Uh, her husband in our clinic asked, I asked him, "What would be the thing that you would really want for your wife?" And he said, "I would like her to not get up from her, our bed and hop to the shower." And I think you all would agree, if it was your wife, you would not want that, or your husband, you would not want that, or your child.

253. 0:36:34

     So without, um, I'm open for questions if you all have it, but Hannah is here to testify as well.

254. 0:36:41

     Let's hear from Hannah. I see no questions. Let's hear from Hannah. Thank you, Rachel.

255. 0:36:47

     Yes, sir.

256. 0:36:47

     Thank you.

257. 0:36:53

     Hi.

258. 0:36:55

     Hi.

259. 0:36:55

     Um, my name is Hannah, and I'm a special education teacher in Rome, Georgia. I'm married to a PE teacher, and we have two amazing boys. I am also a lifelong runner, having run in high school, received a college scholarship, and continued to run into adulthood. Running is my outlet. It's how I manage stress to fully show up for my kids, my students, and myself. On February 24th of this year, less than a year ago, my youngest son and I were on our way to school when we were hit by a driver under the influence of drugs.

260. 0:37:26

     I was trapped in the vehicle for two hours before emergency crews could free me. As a result of my injuries, I did have my left leg amputated below the knee. Um, I am a mom, I'm a wife, I'm a special education teacher, I'm a high school cross country coach, and I'm a middle school soccer coach, so losing my leg was devastating. But when I came out of surgery, I was determined that this would not change the trajectory of my family's life.

261. 0:37:56

     At my first prosthetic appointment, I asked my prosthetist, who is no longer, um, it's not Rachel's husband, but my original prosthetist, about a running blade, and he told me he didn't know anything about a running blade. He didn't serve anyone in his office who even wanted to run, and my insurance wouldn't cover it, so it would cost me thousands and thousands of dollars. So I left that appointment deflated and heartbroken. But I do live in the best town in all of Georgia, and on August 9th, 745 people from my community showed up to a 5K put on by my athlete's parents, and because of my town, I was able to get a running blade, and on April 20th, less than three months from today, I will stand on the start line of the 2026 Boston Marathon.

262. 0:38:40

     All right.

263. 0:38:46

     Well, thank you. I don't share that because I'm extraordinary. I share that because I'm stubborn and because I believe deeply in what I teach my students. As a special education teacher, I've always told my kids that their disabilities don't have to hold them back. They can do the exact same things. It may just look a little bit different. After the accident, I had to believe that for myself. I fought to return to school before the year was over because how could I ask my students to never give up if I wasn't willing to do the same? Coming back gave me the chance to show them that we can do hard things and that our limitations don't have the final word.

264. 0:39:20

     I want to be clear that I am grateful. I am grateful to stand. I am grateful to do a job that I love. But under the State Health Benefit plan, I'm only allowed this one leg every three years, one leg for every task, every activity of daily living, exercise, job requirements, events, et cetera. In education, we adapt constantly. We are constantly changing our curriculum, our schedules, our methods. Adaptation is expected of my profession, but it's not allowed for me under the State Health Plan.

265. 0:39:52

     I'm not asking for more than anyone else. I'm asking for the tools to do my job well. A shower prosthetic is not a luxury. It's essential for safety, independence, and dignity. An active leg isn't extra. It helps me to stay healthy, to conserve sick days, which I lost all of them, and continue serving my students. Exercise isn't optional for me. It's how I stay mentally and physically healthy enough to show up every morning, even when it's hard. This legislation isn't about convenience or excess.

266. 0:40:25

     It's about equity, ensuring that state health employees like myself have the tools necessary to meet the same professional expectations as our peers. When we remove barriers, we don't lower standards. We allow people to meet them. In the weeks following the accident, I carried a lot of guilt and anxiety for my, my own personal children and my students, what it would look like to have a mom or a teacher with a disability. What I've learned is that they get a front row seat to grit and resilience and inclusion.

267. 0:40:55

     Allow me to let my children and my students see character instead of unjust hardship. This bill will give people like me the dignity, health, and ability to meet the same expectations as everyone else. I love serving the state, and I love my students. I'm not asking to be spared from hard things. I'm asking for a fair chance to rise to meet them. Thank you.

268. 0:41:18

     Thank you, Hannah. Uh, we have no one else signed up to speak. Uh, like I said, this is a hearing only, but we will come back to this as soon as you get a fiscal note. Okay? Wanna thank the committee for, uh, your time today and all those folks that, uh, attended. Uh, I did miss two folks. Uh, I didn't have this list when 195 was being heard. Uh, Katherine Tehan, are you still here? Um, let me see. There's another one on here.

269. 0:41:49

     Is that Kenny Ware? I think he probably... I think they both left. But I ap- I, I apologize to them. I just didn't see them on the list. This committee is, uh, concluded. Thank you.