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Found 11 matching documents.
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Health Committee · February 25, 2026
House Health Committee, February 25, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The House Health Committee approved three bills by voice vote: HB 1346, addressing maternal mental health screening and referrals; HB 1275, revising a stem cell therapy proposal to clarify that materials may come from outside Georgia; and HB 1276, addressing Medicaid eligibility verification. Members discussed funding for maternal mental health services and rejected consideration of a Medicaid expansion amendment to the stem cell bill. The Medicaid discussion focused on avoiding federal penalties while protecting eligible residents from paperwork barriers. Implementation costs and some federal requirements remained uncertain. A member requested postponement, but no separate vote on that request was recorded before the committee approved the bill.
Uh, good afternoon, everyone. It is 4:36, and we're gonna go ahead and start. And we're gonna begin with HB 1346. Representative Anissa Jones. You're too fast, Mr. Chairman. There you go. Very nice. Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee. I believe- Thank you for the opportunity to present HB 1346 as using LC620442S. And this is known as...
That's why I introduced House Bill 1346. This is not a new program built from scratch. This is not a mandate. It is a structured, evidence-based system to ensure mothers are screened, referred, and treated early, before depression becomes crisis, before anxiety becomes hospitalization, and before children suffer lifelong developmental harm. That is...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Health Committee · February 23, 2026
House Health Committee, February 23, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved nine bills covering healthcare licensing, treatments, insurance coverage and payments. Members approved HB 1295, HB 1275, HB 326 and HB 1138 with amendments, and approved a substitute for HB 1122. They also approved HB 1292, HB 1278, HB 1374 and HB 1236. Discussion focused on protecting existing stem cell research, access to contraception, liability protections, and whether requiring Georgia-licensed professionals to review insurance denials could affect costs and delays. Members initially tabled HB 1138 over liability concerns, then brought it back and approved it after removing civil liability protections. Two opposing votes were reported on HB 1275.
Yes, sir. And that is HB 1236. Mr. Chairman, uh, members of the committee, thank you for giving me the opportunity to come before you today with House Bill 1236, working off LC600237. And, and, uh, this is a piece of legislation that has came to me, um, after just hearing frustration from both medical providers and patients in our state. And the gist of the...
Um, thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I 100% agree with the frustration that you have. And I am actually curious if the issue is necessarily that the person is licensed in, licensed in the state or not, or whether it has more to do with what you said, which is that they're kind of, they're- What it seems like is their MO is to start with no and then kind of make...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Health Committee · March 5, 2026
House Health Committee, March 5, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved HB 1089, which the sponsor described as allowing ivermectin purchases without a prescription through a pharmacist, and approved HB 810 with an amendment changing its rural-area population threshold. Most of the meeting concerned HB 139, addressing restrictions on pharmacies participating in the federal 340B drug discount program. Supporters said it would protect medication access and funding for safety-net services. Opponents raised concerns about transparency, healthcare costs, hospital consolidation and legal challenges. Members questioned conflicting testimony about reporting requirements and effects on the State Health Benefit Plan. The committee voted to table HB 139 for further study. Complete vote counts were not stated.
Um, but protecting the status quo is not the same necessarily as protecting patients. We have concerns, uh, about House Bill 139, uh, in that it does not address several structural issues within the program that have raised legitimate conc- questions and concerns nationwide, really. The 340B program was originally designed to help safety net providers...
But maintaining the long-term integrity of 340B requires more than simply preserving existing arrangements. It requires transparency, accountability, and a clear connection between savings and patient benefit. And though Mended Hearts is a national organization, we have a strong presence in Georgia. Our national headquarters is in Leesburg. We have eight...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Health Committee · March 2, 2026
House Health Committee, March 2, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee considered five bills and gave each a favorable recommendation. Members approved HB 382, addressing drug classifications and pharmacy rules, and amended HB 1332 on preferences for American-made medicines, HB 1309 on dispensing medicines in medical offices, and HB 298 on hospital nurse staffing committees. The longest discussion concerned HB 1393, which would let certain rural hospitals collaborate while remaining independent. Members questioned its proposed protections from antitrust liability. The chair initially designated it for a hearing only, but later allowed a vote after consulting legislative counsel. The committee approved that bill with an amendment limiting part of its antitrust language to the powers granted in the legislation. All five bills passed by voice vote, with no numerical totals stated.
But it does get to the sort of antitrust issue and the broad nature about how some of these additional, uh, hospital authorities or reconstituted hospital authorities would be able to use some of these, um, powers or carve-outs or exemptions from antitrust enforcement. Attorney's dream, is that what you're saying? I'm not an attorney myself- ... but I think...
Mm-hmm ... "For purposes of federal and state antitrust law, when exercising its powers pursuant to this article, hospital authorities operating in Sevier County shall be deemed political subdivisions of the state." So- When exercising powers is the additional wording? Correct. Mm-hmm. Yeah, the same language as in line 80 to 81. Uh. Okay. Sounds har- Would...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Health Committee · February 9, 2026
House Health Committee, February 9, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved substitutes for HB 970, concerning student-athlete physicals; HB 810, concerning pharmacy reimbursements; and HB 662, concerning eligibility for rural hospital tax credits. No vote counts were stated. The committee also held hearings without votes on HB 1138, which would expand access to contraception through pharmacists, and HB 1089, which would make human-formulated ivermectin available without a prescription. Members raised questions about screening requirements, patient costs, insurance rules and medication safety. The committee also approved a rule requiring substitutes to be submitted one business day before consideration, rather than two hours beforehand.
Okay, we're gonna hear, uh, HB 1138 next. Representative Camp. This is a hearing only. Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman and committee, for allowing me to be here today. Um, we're looking at HB 1138, LC 461351. And I would like to apologize. I am one of the latecomers that elicited the change in your rules, so please forgive me. Um, that's one of the...
So for this reason, I bring this bill here today, and I'm happy to answer any questions. Representative Clark, is that you? Yes. The ones before me. All right. Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you for the bill. Um, I, uh, I, I like where this is going. Uh, my ver- my two questions. The first question is, does this bill require a person to have already had a...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Health Committee · February 2, 2026
House Health Committee, February 2, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee considered three bills. Members unanimously approved a substitute for HB 629 concerning school automated external defibrillator (AED) programs and bleeding-control training. The committee heard testimony on HB 326, which the sponsor said would give qualifying nonopioid pain medicines coverage no less favorable than opioids under the State Health Benefit Plan. No vote was taken, with wording, implementation details and a fiscal note still being worked on. The committee also held a hearing on HB 1002, which the sponsor said would move Medicaid coverage for foster children from managed care to direct fee-for-service payment. Members discussed access to treatment, provider availability and possible costs. The chair requested a fiscal note before further discussion, and no vote was taken.
And, and we learned a lot. And to Representative Schofield's important point, you know, I, as a survivor of addiction, I would be the last person that would support a piece of legislation that would take legitimate medicine away from one of my brothers and sisters who are suffering from a chronic pain disease, and I, I don't think that's the intent, and I...
On December 5th of 2024, our family was struck by a devastation that changed our lives forever. My stepson Nick overdosed and died from smoking heroin. We were blindsided as a family and we didn't know what he was using. We were uneducated about substance use disorder and believed he was just a young adult experimenting with drugs recreationally and he...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Health Committee · February 18, 2026
House Health Committee, February 18, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved seven measures: HB 1192 on health and human services funding oversight, HB 810 on pharmacy reimbursements, HB 951 on orthotic and prosthetic coverage, HB 1002 on Medicaid coverage for foster children, HB 1211 on colorectal cancer screening coverage, and two study committees. The longest discussion concerned HB 1002, with supporters describing treatment delays and state health officials explaining that provider enrollment, prior approvals and medical necessity requirements would remain under fee-for-service Medicaid. That bill passed with opposition, but no clear vote count was announced. The committee also approved HR 592 to study physician noncompete agreements and HR 948 to study pharmacy benefit managers, amending both resolutions to change their end dates from 2025 to 2026.
It, it will be an oversight by them. There will be some instances where they can do simple audits within, within theirs. But they will have outside audits also. It will be both. Okay. Thank you. Mm-hmm. Representative Barton. Mr. Chairman. Oh. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, uh, Chair Lady, uh, as a member of- Sorry ... of Health Appropriations with you, just...
Yeah, I agree. So that's what we're talking about. When you have something that's allocated for a certain area, a certain type of service- Mm-hmm ... that that's where it goes, and we can follow it. Thank you. Thank you. Follow it? We can pass it. Okay. That's good. Thanks. Mr. Chair? Mr. Chair? Yes, ma'am. Is there a way, I don't know if there's someone...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Health Committee · March 16, 2026
House Health Committee, March 16, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved two bills. SB 91 would restrict state health-plan contracts with pharmacy benefit managers that own retail pharmacies. Members amended two dates from 2025 to 2026 before approving it by voice vote. The committee also unanimously approved SB 439 as passed by the Senate after discussing disclosures, referral fees, competing referrals and enforcement for agencies helping families find senior living communities.
Yeah. Okay, we are ready to start. Um, and we're gonna hear Senate Bill 19, f- um, excuse me, 91 first. Senator Tillery, that is LC520705. Well, thank you, Mr., Mr. Chairman. Thank you, uh, members of the committee too. Appreciate your time and your indulgence. This is a bill that passed out of your committee last year, and it was recommitted after the, uh,...
And also on 21. Thank you. Uh, I don't know who number eight is. That's me. Uh, Chairman Newton. Thank, thank you, Mr. Chairman, and, and thank you for the bill. I would argue that this is still a little bit of a scap- scalpel, because you're just directing things that the state does businesses with. It's not telling another Coca-Cola or Home Depot or...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Health Committee · March 23, 2026
House Health Committee, March 23, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved SB 411 with an amendment adding physicians to the professionals allowed to perform dry needling. The approved version also included provisions from HB 1428 allowing the engineering and land surveying licensing board to retain certain fee revenue. The committee held a hearing only on SB 367, which would remove state approval requirements for certain cancer care facilities, services and equipment. Supporters argued that the change would reduce delays and expand access. Opponents raised concerns about hospital finances, pediatric care, quality standards and care for patients unable to pay. No vote was taken on that proposal.
'Cause there's a lot of stuff in here, but if it was narrowed to equipment, is there as m- is there strong opposition? What we would say is that we would ask that, um, the House and this committee wait until next year. The department has convened technical advisory committees, which are experts, which include experts on workforce shortages. I'm sure the...
So we have a serious concentration, or serious lack thereof in the rest of the state that are not those two counties. Um, and with that, those are my remarks. All right. Thank you very much. Uh, Senator Cowtzer, I bet you would love to wrap up. Be glad to. And I'll, I'll, I won't rebut every single thing said, but I, I think it's just quite interesting how...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Health Committee · January 28, 2026
House Health Committee, January 28, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved an amended substitute for SB 195, which would allow trained pharmacists to provide HIV prevention medicines under physician agreements. It also approved HB 522, prohibiting denial of an organ transplant solely because of COVID-19 vaccination status, by an 11-6 vote after debate and public testimony. The committee heard HB 951, which would extend expanded prosthetic and orthotic coverage to the State Health Benefit Plan, but took no vote because an updated cost estimate was pending. The chair announced that HB 629 and HB 878 would not be heard.
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. Gisler, Rob. Gisler. Okay. Eric...
Still Representative Newton. Thank you. Okay. Uh, up next is, uh, House Bill 522. Representative Gullett. Chairman, do I turn this mic over to you? No, I... He'll need to use it. Oh, all right. Yeah. Welcome. You get to be pals with all of us today. All right. Thank you, Chairman. Thank you, members of the committee. Uh, House Bill, House Bill 522,...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Health Committee · April 1, 2026
House Health Committee, April 1, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee considered a substitute for SB 39 concerning certification of community health workers. The sponsor said the proposal would establish common training and competency standards and help rural and underserved communities access care. A committee member asked about funding, and the sponsor said funding was expected in the amended budget but was not guaranteed. The committee approved the substitute by voice vote, with no opposition heard.
So some of you may have heard that this was gonna be SB 6, uh, 367. Th- that's incorrect. This is SB39. So all those who are thinking, thought we're doing 367, if you, if you wanna leave, you can. If you wanna listen to a very good legislator with a very good subject that will still hold your interest and involve you, you may sit where you are. How about...
Okay. And then didn't need the funds, I could use them elsewhere. Sure. I appreciate that. I- Thank you ... I've learned that nothing is, is for certain until it's done, so- And you're right ... I appreciate that. Thank you ... it isn't done till it's done. And then we forget it. Yeah. Representative Davis. Thank you, Chairman. I just wanna say thank you...
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