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GA HB697

Bill

Status

Engrossed

3/8/2021

Primary Sponsor

Mark Newton

Click for details

Origin

House of Representatives

2021-2022 Regular Session

AI Summary

  • Amends Georgia Code Section 31-6-47 to create a new certificate of need (CON) exemption for acute care hospitals located in rural counties that relocate within the same county between July 1, 2022, and July 1, 2024, even if bed capacity increases
  • Qualifying hospitals must meet criteria as of June 30, 2022, including providing inpatient services, participating in both Medicaid and Medicare, serving indigent patients, and having at least 10% of annual net revenue categorized as indigent care, charity care, or bad debt
  • Eligible hospitals must be operated by a county or municipal authority or hold 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, be current on all required audits and reports, and annually file IRS Form 990 (or equivalent) with the department
  • Hospitals must have a three-year average patient margin, as a percent of expense, less than one standard deviation above the statewide three-year average of similarly qualifying organizations, as calculated by the department
  • If a county where an exempt hospital operates later loses its rural county designation, the hospital retains its exemption for as long as it continues to operate

Legislative Description

Health care data collection; hospitals maintain certain technology; provisions

Last Action

Senate Read Second Time

3/30/2022

Committee Referrals

Health and Human Services3/9/2021
Special Committee On Access to Quality Health Care3/1/2021

Full Bill Text

No bill text available