March 20, 2009

Today marked the 34th legislative day, we have only 6 legislative days remaining in the 2009 session.

Below are results of the healthcare legislation that we have been working on and
tracking:

SR 628     Rental / Silent Network Study Committee –Creates a Senate Study
Committee on Health Care Provider Rental/Silent network contract arrangements. The committee will study issues surrounding the granting of access to a provider's health care services and contractual discounts to a third party under certain circumstances.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/sum/sr628.htm

SB 195    E-Prescribing Revision and Clarification - Professions / Businesses,
Secretary of State update bill – Sen. Ronnie Chance – bill was amended to include
clarification of e-prescriptions, board of pharmacy rules codified into GA law. Passed
Senate, now in House Health and Human Services.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/sum/sb195.htm

SB 108    Tort Reform, Sen. Bill Cowsert, Georgia Civil Practice Act pushed by
Gov. Sonny Perdue. Passed Senate without the "loser pays" language; now in House
Judiciary.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/sum/sb108.htm

HB 509    Medical Practice Act, Rep. Sharon Cooper, to make technical corrections
and modernize the medical practice act. Changes and clarifications in the act relate to role of physician assistants. Passed House, now in Senate Health and Human Services. Many meetings have occurred on HB 509 in the past week, MAG remains opposed to the bill and an update of the MPA. http://www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2009_10/sum/hb509.htm

SB 62    Prompt Pay, Sen. Ralph Hudgens, Insurance Ctte; includes plan
administrators in prompt pay requirements; penalties. Blue Cross Blue Shield and other health insurers support the bill – the GA Chamber of Commerce, United, Aetna and CIGNA oppose the legislation. Passed Senate 2/17, in House Appropriations.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/sum/sb62.htm

SB 156    Georgia Trauma Care Network Commission – Restructuring of the state
trauma commission and trust fund. Passed Senate, now in House Health and Human Services.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/sum/sb156.htm

HB 160    Trauma Funding – Super speeder fines, fines go to fund trauma system.
Passed House, now in Senate Public Safety.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/sum/hb160.htm

HB 480    Trauma Funding – Tag Tax Revision, comprehensive overall of taxation of
motor vehicles, funds to go towards trauma system. Passed House, now in Senate
Finance.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/sum/hb480.htm

The House passed the 2010 budget yesterday and the Senate will take it up now. There is much concern among legislators and the Governor about falling state revenues and there is the possibility of a special session later this year.

The legislature will meet on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday of next week, (March
23-27) which brings the calendar through the 38th legislative day. The final week of the session, they plan to meet Monday, March 30th , Wednesday, April 1st and Friday, April 3rd will be the 40th legislative day and final day of the session.

To date, there have been 784 bills introduced in the House and 272 bills in the Senate. Though it is too late for any new legislation to successfully move through the process by the end of the session, all bills remain active for the 2010 legislative session.