2015 State Legislative Session Outcome Report
Issue 1Stroke Facility Designation – HB 853 by Rep. Lee Hawkins, Sharon Cooper, James Beverly, Tom Weldon, Nikki Randall and Howard Maxwell
In 2008, Georgia passed legislation creating facility designations for Primary and Remote Stroke Ready facilities. Updated science shows the need for adding a third designation: Comprehensive Stroke Centers. Strokes are the seventh leading cause of preventable death in Georgia, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health. From 2009 – 2013, 18,055 deaths due to stoke occurred in the state.
Stroke is a medical emergency that requires a streamlined approach to treatment. Despite successes in new therapies, significant obstacles remain in translating these advancements into clinical practice. In many cases, these obstacles are related to a fragmentation of care by healthcare facilities, medical professionals, agencies and other critical links that should closely collaborate to provide stroke care. Lack of cohesiveness can result in suboptimal treatment. To improve stroke care, the establishment of a uniformed approach to treating stroke and the implementation of a system of care that integrates prevention, treatment and rehabilitation services are needed.
The Joint Commission certifies hospitals as Advanced Primary Stroke Centers and Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Centers. This designation indicates the ability of hospitals to diagnose and care for stroke patients through staffing and equipment.
END RESULTS:
HB 853 passed both the House and Senate and as of 4-4-16 the bill is waiting to be signed by the Governor. The bill did not receive any “No” votes during the legislative process.
Issue 2Controlling and Regulating the sale of e-liquids and vapor pens – HB 907
The bill would have amended Article 7 of Chapter 12 of Title 16 and Title 26 of the Official Code of Georgia relating to sale or distribution to, or possession by, minors of cigarettes and tobacco related objects and food, drugs, and cosmetics, respectively, so as to safeguard public health, safety and welfare by controlling and regulating the manufacture, production, distribution, and sale of e-liquids and vapor pens. The bill would have provided for the powers, duties, and authority of the Commissioner of Agriculture in regulating and licensing e-liquid manufacturers and to regulate e-liquid ingredients and labeling to prohibit adulteration, misbranding, false advertising and certain other activities in conjunction with e-liquids.
END RESULTS:
This bill died in committee and did not pass
Budget Update
Department of Community Health (Section 17)
•Tobacco Settlement Funds(low-income Medicaid)$109,968,257
•Rural Hospital Stabilization Committee$0 Utilizing current funds
Grants to critical access hospitals and other rural healthcare providers for demonstration pilot projects
•Medicaid – low-income Medicaid$3,933,283,365
•Hospital Provider Payment$272,255,461
Department of Human Services (Section 27)
•Tobacco Settlement Funds (community living services)$6,191,806
Department of Public Health (Section 37)
•Tobacco Settlement Funds (general)$13,717,860
Contact InformationDavid Francis
Community Government Relations Director
American Heart Association, Greater Southeast Affiliate
2851 Remington Green Circle, Suite C
Tallahassee, FL 32308
(850)567-0598
American Heart Association