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Found 10 matching documents.
Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Health and Human Services Committee · March 16, 2026
Senate Health and Human Services Committee, March 16, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee recommended passage of six bills. It unanimously approved HB 1374, covering health provider payment methods and state contract renewals, HB 1278, concerning dental sedation permits, and HB 1329, updating drug laws. After debate over reporting requirements for privately funded homeless services, the committee approved HB 1396 by a 6-4 vote and rejected an amendment to apply it statewide. The committee unanimously approved HB 1238 after adding language about providing services in the least restrictive, most family-like setting possible. It also unanimously approved an amended substitute for HB 1097, concerning national background checks for people serving vulnerable populations.
All right, um, Leader Estraian, House Bill 1396. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. This is LC560608 as passed in the House. Over the past few years, the General Assembly's made substantial investment in addressing the unsheltered homelessness problem, particularly in the city of Atlanta. Uh, there have been substantial funds expended of...
Thank you. Any questions from the committee? Uh, Senator Merritt, uh, you're on the- I'm on 11. 11. Thank you. Um, thank you, Representative. Uh, I have a few questions. Number one, why are we targeting just the city of Atlanta? If we wanna make... If we wanna really address homelessness, I think this would be a statewide. You are asking for state money....
Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Health and Human Services Committee · March 25, 2026
Senate Health and Human Services Committee, March 25, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved a substitute for HB 1393 by an 8 to 5 vote, combining rural hospital cooperation provisions with repeal of most certificate-of-need requirements. Members returned HB 350 to consideration, adopted seven amendments concerning safe surrender of infants, and voted on the amended bill, though the chair did not explicitly announce the result. The committee unanimously approved HB 291, HB 334, HB 657 and HB 1211. The approved substitute for HB 657 included provisions from SB 440 updating Department of Public Health law. The chair removed HB 1296 from the agenda at the sponsor's request for further work.
So the, the author of HB 1296, uh, Representative Monaghan, is we're gonna work on that all session. He asked that, uh, we continue to work on that, so we're gonna take that off the agenda. And because of the late hour, uh, I'm gonna go ahead and let's do HB 1393. Uh, we have a substitute, and we have some folks, just a couple folks that are going to...
And I think we're, hopefully we'll not have anyone else testify except maybe the, obviously the authors. So we're here. Uh, so, uh, if I could get, um, um, Mr. Belafonte, if you don't mind coming, uh, coming up. Uh, so HB 1393, as, as we discussed in the hearing only last week, if you'll note that, uh, that bill, uh, it's gonna be threading, uh, the needle...
Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Health and Human Services Committee · March 23, 2026
Senate Health and Human Services Committee, March 23, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved six bills and held a hearing without a vote on a seventh. Members approved HB 382 on certain drug approvals and pharmacy staffing, HB 506 on ambulance surprise billing, HB 1138 on pharmacist-prescribed contraception, HB 970 on student sports physicals, HB 659 on rural optometrist loan forgiveness, and HB 1275 on stem cell processing. Members added a corn-flour fortification requirement to HB 1138 and made changes to HB 1275. The hearing on HB 1393 focused on allowing rural hospitals to work together while remaining independent. Supporters described financial and staffing needs, while other witnesses raised concerns about higher prices, large hospital systems benefiting, and insufficient state oversight. The chair called for further work on that bill before the meeting adjourned.
That's why sharing leaders, sharing specialists, sharing individuals is much more cost effective. All right. And you want to get that number up to how many beds or how many ER visits so that you can be competitive on the, on the negotiations? It's, it's more about just the vo- the current occupancy and volume. So, you know, you would, like, take that to...
It is no different from a county government. It is no different from muni- municipality. And that's true for the ones that are restructured as well. Those are the ones that have the 501[c][3]s that do the operating arm of the hospital authority. And so that's how they get to this antitrust limitation is by effectively making them arms of the state. That's...
Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Health and Human Services Committee · March 18, 2026
Senate Health and Human Services Committee, March 18, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved HB 1096 on public health employees’ leave benefits, SR 927 creating a prescription access study committee, HB 471 on newborn water safety education, and HB 717 regulating psychedelic treatment clinics, all unanimously. A substitute for HB 154 proposing a move to Atlantic Standard Time year-round passed 11 to 2 after discussion of health benefits, darker mornings and interstate scheduling concerns. The committee also heard testimony on HB 350, which would add ambulance services as infant surrender locations and allow infant safety devices. Members raised questions about safety, oversight, anonymity and alternatives to the devices. The committee voted 8 to 4 to table that bill until the following week, with the chair promising more information and follow-up.
Uh, good bills. We, tonight we will have finished all of the agency bills, hopefully. We got a couple tonight, and we will have finished all of them. And, uh, we're gonna meet next Monday and Wednesday also. Uh, and we'll get this done tonight. That's why I wanted to go ahead and have the meeting tonight so we won't be, uh, won't be pushing, uh, next week....
It allows a narrow group of employees, and it prohibits the county from paying out accrued leave at a transfer, preventing double benefits or double-dipping or windfalls. It authorizes the state personnel board to adopt the rules to ensure consistent implementation. And I'm, it's a very short bill, but I'd be very happy to answer any questions. L- let me...
Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Health and Human Services Committee · February 23, 2026
Senate Health and Human Services Committee, February 23, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee unanimously approved a substitute for SB 535 to change oversight and operations of community service boards, and approved SB 500 to expand health care workforce data collection. Members heard testimony from people affected by Prader-Willi syndrome about care needs and barriers to services, then unanimously approved SR 567 after changing the proposed awareness designation to a day at the Capitol. The committee also approved a substitute for SB 439, regulating referrals to assisted living communities and personal care homes, by an 8-1 vote. Discussion focused on referral fees, disclosure to families, contract deadlines and whether referral agencies should have to check facilities’ inspection information.
The folks on the assisted living side prefer the 12/12. Um, and those were the two major issues that were not al- allowing us to move forward last time I presented this bill. Uh, this is the final version, um, that we've come up with. Uh, there is still some consternation, uh, among some folks on the referral agency side, uh, with this, because it doesn't...
So we are Senate Bill 500, Senator Hodges. Uh, this, we've actually seen this. Yes. And, um- And Mr. Besean is here with you. He is. We hope he does as good a job as Commissioner Tanner. Good to see you again, Mr. Chair. All righty. As, as quick a job as the commissioner. Um, you're right. Um, you're right, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. You have seen this bill...
Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Health and Human Services Committee · February 9, 2026
Senate Health and Human Services Committee, February 9, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee held a hearing on SB 439, which would set disclosure and payment requirements for agencies that refer families to assisted living communities and personal care homes. Senior living providers supported the proposal, describing families’ confusion about referrals and disputes over fees. Local referral agencies supported transparency but opposed requirements they said would burden families in crisis and small businesses. Members asked about fees, conflicts of interest and existing law. No vote was taken. The chair asked for proposed changes by noon the next day and said the bill could return Wednesday if the parties worked out their concerns.
we have more than a quorum, so let's get started. And, uh, we have just one bill on the agenda. Uh, we have it as a hearing only, uh, but the chairman reserves the right to change, uh, at his discretion. So we'll see how it goes. Uh, Senator Shawn Still, SB 439, uh, Fair Business Practices Act. Uh, love for have you and anybody else to present the bill, and...
Are, uh, yes, we do. We have, um, been engaged with the GSLA just recently, uh, to, uh, bring forth our suggestions that would really make it, um, truly consumer protection. Uh, there's parts of it that actually are hurting and harming Georgia families, not to mention the local... I mean, we're, we have 30 agencies that are part of our organization that are...
Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Health and Human Services Committee · February 4, 2026
Senate Health and Human Services Committee, February 4, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee unanimously recommended passage of two measures, both with substitutes. SR 684 recognizes American Heart Month and was revised to refer to the State Capitol rather than the State of Georgia. SB 427 would create a supervised licensing pathway for internationally trained physicians. Members discussed qualifications, immigration concerns, physician shortages, oversight and eligible workplaces. Medical board representatives answered questions, and two witnesses supported the physician licensing proposal.
Well, I'm- But, uh, you know. So does that, so, so yeah, that, that answers my question. Okay. Thank you. Uh, Senator Setzler, you have one more? Yeah, uh, uh, Madam Chair, probably have some more than that after we hear some testimony. My question is, is this a circumstance where, um, for example, would this qual- would these roles qualify for an H-1B visa...
Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Health and Human Services Committee · February 11, 2026
Senate Health and Human Services Committee, February 11, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee unanimously approved both bills it considered. SB 440 would update Department of Public Health laws by removing outdated requirements, inactive advisory groups and unused positions. The sponsor and a department representative said active services would continue. SB 462 would address surprise bills for out-of-network ground ambulance transportation. Supporters said its payment rules would protect patients and help fund ambulance services. A health insurance industry witness supported protecting patients from balance bills but questioned the proposed reimbursement rate and raised a possible state cost under newly announced federal rules. Members discussed patient costs, which insurance plans would be covered and how ambulance payments would be calculated before approving the bill.
The Nan Orrock Red Tape Rollback. You can call it that. I didn't name the bill. That's all right. And it is an agency bill, so they probably didn't want anybody's name on it. It, it, uh, I, I- I- You can call it whatever you want, though ... concur, I concur with the author of the bill. Okay. Thank you. Call it- And second here by, uh, Senator Robertson. I...
Sydney, is there any way we can edit that, uh, you know? We're good. All right. That is ever so true. There are many. So all right, SB 440, Senator Kay Kirkpatrick. Uh, you can stay in your seat or go around. Whatever you'd like today. Okay. Yeah.
Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Health and Human Services Committee · February 18, 2026
Senate Health and Human Services Committee, February 18, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee heard SB 428, which would authorize the Department of Community Health to seek a federal Medicaid waiver for community services for adults with serious mental health or substance use needs. Members questioned eligibility, costs, oversight and connections to jails. The committee unanimously adopted an amendment clarifying that eligibility factors could apply in combination, then unanimously approved the amended bill and sent it to Rules.
Ooh. 1915. The most important waiver that this committee has ever done. Stuart. Yes. The, uh, so section 1115 of the Social Security Act is the waiver that allows for states to do demonstrations and waive components of their eligibility and their finances. Okay. And we did it for- And that's where your billionaire would come in. The exchange. The, yes. ACA...
And Mr. Chairman, if I can- Sure. Okay. So just hearing what you said, homelessness isn't, the goal of this bill isn't to only capture people who are homeless. So my suggestion, I may ask Chairman Cowsert as well if he would chime in and see if you, you agree with me on this, but I think because there's the and- Uh-huh ... I believe that's, that, that's a...
Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Health and Human Services Committee · February 2, 2026
Senate Health and Human Services Committee, February 2, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee considered SB 411, which addresses who may perform dry needling, training requirements and advertising restrictions. The sponsor presented a substitute and answered questions about the difference between dry needling and acupuncture and whether patients could still bring malpractice claims. No witnesses signed up to speak. The committee approved the substitute by voice vote, which the chair described as unanimous.
... anticipated. Maybe not, maybe not anticipated, but it was longer, let me put it that way. Uh, so we have one bill today, and I promised, uh, Jack, who is watching online, that this would not take longer than 30 minutes. And Senator Still, who has the bill, assured me of that. And, uh, the committee, uh, has it in their folder. We're doing Senate Bill...
And traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture is really focused on qi points, putting in, inserting needles, leaving needles in to perform, uh, different levels of therapies. When physical therapists or occupational therapists do it, it's usually just to insert the needle, remove it, s- to be able to stimulate and reactivate a muscle. And that's the, the...
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