Though it is likely to get lost amid the furor over Gov. Brian Kemp suing the City of Atlanta over its mask mandate – something Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms took issue with – the governor did make some other news on Thursday. Kemp traveled up to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital for a bill signing ceremony to put the final nail on several pieces of legislation aimed at improving healthcare costs and coverage.
The governor signed several bills during the visit but the two highlights were House Bill 888 and House Bill 1114.
Sponsored by Rep. Lee Hawkins (R- 27 Gainesville) among others, with the bipartisan support of Rep. Calvin Smyre (D-135 Columbus), HB 888 is a reform bill with the goal of improving the billing process and preventing surprise increases and expensive costs. It is insurance-based, with mechanisms included to resolve payment disputes between insurers and out-of-network providers. It also requires the Commissioner of Insurance to provide for the maintenance of an all-payer health claims data base and to establish an arbitration process.
HB 1114 was carried by the respective female Republican health gurus in each chamber, Rep. Sharon Cooper (R-43 Marietta) in the House and Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick (R-32 Roswell) in the Senate. It provides an additional four months of Medicaid coverage for new mothers on Medicaid and also includes coverage for lactation services.
“This is an historic step forward for Georgia when it comes to healthcare, and frankly, it couldn’t come at a better time – as our state and country face the greatest public health challenge we have seen in the 21st Century,” said Governor Kemp. “When we began 2020, none of us could have predicted that we would face a pandemic and grapple with unprecedented threats to the lives – and livelihoods – of all Georgians.”
Other bills included in the signing were:
HB 521 – which, among other things, allows for temporary licenses for dentists licensed in other states,
HB 578 – which allows for law enforcement conviction review for those seeking to become volunteers, interns, students or employees,
HB 789 – somewhat related to HB 888, 789 creates a “surprise bill rating system” for hospitals,
HB 932 – the Georgia Podiatry Practice Act,
SB 28 – a limit on copayments or other office visit charges by insurance companies, and
SB 395 – related to County and Municipal Hospital Authorities and the portioning of proceeds from the sale or lease of a hospital.
“We have faced sobering moments together, but today is a bright spot as we continue to streamline bureaucracy, increase access to care, insist on transparency and fairness, improve health outcomes, and put Georgia families first. I am grateful for the hard work of the General Assembly along with our partners in the medical field, frontline heroes, and local leaders to champion these much-needed reforms as we work to build a safer, stronger Georgia.”
