GA HB1339

Revises Georgia's certificate of need (CON) program by eliminating the capital expenditure threshold trigger for CON review, expanding exemptions including for birthing centers, new psychiatric/substance abuse beds, rural hospital perinatal services, hospital bed transfers within the same system, and new hospitals in rural counties where hospitals have closed, while also increasing the hospital bed capacity exemption from 10% to 20% over a three-year period at facilities with 60%+ occupancy (down from 75%)

Streamlines the CON application process by reducing the letter of intent requirement from 30 to 25 days, setting a 30-day deadline for filing opposition, limiting who may oppose an application to parties offering similar services within 35 miles or with overlapping service areas, and eliminating the commissioner's review of hearing officer decisions on appeal

Increases fines for late or deficient annual reporting by health care facilities from $500/$1,000 per day to $2,000/$5,000 per day and requires the Department of Community Health to review and update the state health plan at least every five years beginning no later than January 1, 2025

Increases the aggregate annual cap on rural hospital organization tax credits from $75 million to $100 million, raises the individual passthrough entity member contribution limit from $10,000 to $25,000, provides for proportional preapproval of contributions that would exceed a rural hospital organization's cap, and extends the program's sunset date from December 31, 2024, to December 31, 2029

Creates the nine-member Comprehensive Health Coverage Commission, appointed by the Governor and legislative leaders, to advise on healthcare access and quality for low-income and uninsured populations, with an initial report due by December 1, 2024, and automatic abolishment on December 31, 2026