What were Georgia’s health and social services laws from the 2023-2024 session? Read Plural’s AI-generated end-of-session report today.
At Plural, our mission is to enhance access to and understanding of the public policy developments that impact our daily lives. We strive to improve transparency by simplifying access to public information. To achieve this, we’ve harnessed technology to simplify processing and engaging with this information.
Harnessing the power of AI to innovate has been a key part of our strategy since our founding. While our approach to applying AI to public policy data has always been multifaceted, we’ve recently focused on generating comprehensive insights by utilizing our diverse datasets. Our latest innovation exemplifies this evolution in our AI strategy: Plural’s end-of-session report generator.
Originally piloted in Minnesota and now expanding across jurisdictions, this tool allows users to produce analyses of legislative actions on a range of topics throughout a single legislative session. All of our AI-driven insights are firmly grounded in primary public policy data — such as bill texts and voting records — rather than external sources like media reports. This commitment to core data ensures accuracy and minimizes bias. We continue to encourage users to view AI-generated tools as partners in research and writing and to carefully review and refine analyses to suit their specific needs.
Below, you can explore one of these reports, which evaluates legislative developments in healthcare and social services during Georgia’s 2023-2024 session.
Georgia 2023-24 Legislative Session: End of Session Report – Health and Social Services
This report summarizes key changes proposed by bills related to Health and Social Services during the latest Georgia legislative session.
Access to Care & Service Delivery:
Expanding Telehealth: HB 441 authorizes and regulates teledentistry, requiring health insurers to cover these services comparably to in-person care.
Rural Healthcare Workforce: HB 872 expands the service cancelable loan program to include dental students, aiming to attract dentists to underserved rural areas.
Supporting Nursing Workforce: SB 246 establishes a student loan repayment program for nursing faculty to address workforce shortages. SB 449 streamlines the certified nurse aide process and creates a provisional program for military medical personnel.
Strengthening Long-Term Care: HB 309 enhances financial stability requirements for personal care homes and assisted living communities to ensure continuity of care for residents. HB 1335 revises staffing requirements for these facilities, aiming to improve resident safety and well-being.
Improving Ambulance Services: HB 453 eliminates the annual license fee for ambulance services, potentially impacting funding and oversight mechanisms.
Public Health & Disease Management:
Addressing the Opioid Crisis: HB 395 authorizes schools to stock and administer opioid antagonists, expanding access to these life-saving drugs. HB 1028 authorizes standing orders for opioid antagonists and post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention.
Combating Sexually Transmitted Infections: SB 46 mandates HIV and syphilis testing for pregnant women at various stages of pregnancy, aiming to improve early detection and treatment.
Supporting Individuals with Diabetes: HB 1183 requires schools to provide information on Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes to parents and guardians of students in grades 6-12.
Enhancing Cancer Care: SB 223 authorizes reimbursement for patient-incurred expenses related to cancer clinical trials, aiming to improve access to these trials. SB 315 regulates cost-sharing for diagnostic and supplemental breast screening examinations, ensuring they are comparable to mammograms.
Mental Health & Substance Use:
Expanding Access to Mental Health Services: HB 414 creates a grant program within the Department of Veterans Service to support behavioral health services for service members, veterans, and their families. SB 480 establishes a student loan repayment program for mental health and substance use professionals serving in underserved areas.
Protecting Healthcare Professionals: HB 455 establishes professional programs to address career fatigue and wellness among healthcare professionals, providing confidentiality and liability protections.
Addressing Alzheimer’s and Dementia: SB 571 adjusts the update cycle for the Georgia Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias State Plan to every four years and revises the advisory council’s membership and responsibilities.
Children & Families:
Supporting Foster Care: SB 216 authorizes longer respite care periods for foster parents, providing them with greater flexibility and support. SB 401 aims to improve data collection and reporting on foster care cases in juvenile courts.
Protecting Children with Epilepsy: SB 45 establishes “A.J.’s Law,” requiring schools to implement seizure action plans and train personnel to support students with epilepsy.
Addressing Child Support: SB 454 updates child support guidelines, focusing on low-income adjustments and parenting time considerations.
Other Notable Changes:
Prohibiting COVID-19 Vaccination Proof Requirements: SB 1 permanently prohibits state and local governments from requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination for government services, with limited exceptions.
Limiting Liability for Mental Health Providers: HB 1409 limits liability for mental health care providers in certain circumstances, aiming to address workforce challenges.
Enhancing Hospital Safety: HB 383 enacts the “Safer Hospitals Act,” allowing hospitals to employ peace officers and enhancing penalties for assaults on healthcare workers.
Increasing Transparency in Healthcare: SB 197 enacts the “Health Care Practitioners Truth and Transparency Act,” requiring clear identification of healthcare practitioners’ qualifications and prohibiting misleading advertising. SB 505 enhances financial transparency requirements for hospitals.
Looking Ahead:
This legislative session saw significant activity in the Health and Social Services arena. The long-term impact of these proposed changes will depend on implementation and future legislative action. Key areas to watch include:
Workforce Development: Will loan repayment programs and other initiatives effectively address shortages in healthcare professions?
Access to Mental Health & Substance Use Treatment: Will new funding and programs translate into improved access to care?
Impact of New Regulations: How will changes to licensing, reporting, and other requirements affect healthcare providers and patients?
This report provides a high-level overview of key changes proposed during the legislative session. Further analysis and monitoring will be necessary to fully understand the implications for Georgia’s health and social services landscape.
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