Highlights of Legislative Report

Julianna McConnell, APRN Lobbyist

Key Bills Passed and Sent to Governor:

SB 70: “Bed” Tax

SB 96: APRNs, RNs, PAs in nursing homes to pronounce death even if Organ Donors

HB 249: Prescriptions through electronic data base

SB 4: Georgia Mental Health Treatment Task Force

SB 47: Physicians & PAs – provide for licensure exemption for visiting sports team coming into Georgia (provider neutral language was not added as we hoped)

SB 109: Nurse Compact Bill

SB 193: Partner therapy for patients with chlamydia or gonorrhea

SB 201: Family Leave Act

SB 242: Expands protocol agreement authorized for a physician to 8 APRNs with no more than 4 being directed at one any time

SB 41: Licensure of durable medical equipment suppliers

SB 88: Narcotic Treatment Programs

SB 102: Establish the Office of Cardiac Care within the DPH

SB 106: Nurse Anesthetist bill – pain management clinics

SB 125: PA Hydrocodone compound prescriptive rights – REMOVED APRNS (APRNs removed due to very problematic language being added that would have given Composite Board of Medicine Increased Oversight of/Authority over APRNs)

SR 188: Study Committee on Barriers to Georgians’ Access to Adequate Healthcare

HB 427: Cancelable loan program for physicians expanded to PAs, dentist and APRNs

BILLS THAT DID NOT PASS THE 2017 SESSION:

SB 180: Preceptor tax credit

SB 40: Emergency medical services personnel authorize them to issue involuntary transport certain mentally ill patients after consulting with medical professional

HR 388: House Study Committee on Meeting the Demand For Nursing Care in Georgia

SB 8: Surprise Billing