Breakthrough: Legislature approves CON changes, Medicaid funding plan, hospital transparency

In a whirlwind of activity on health care bills, the General Assembly on Friday approved substantial changes to the state’s certificate-of-need system and the renewal of a Medicaid funding mechanism. The CON provisions in House Bill 186 will allow Cancer Treatment Centers of America a pathway to expand the capacity of its Newnan facility and…

Push for hospital transparency gets new energy, platform

This year’s legislative fight over Georgia’s certificate-of-need system is different from those in the past, which focused almost entirely on typical CON battles over hospital building projects or authorization of medical services. State Reps. Matt Hatchett (R-Dublin) and Terry England (R-Auburn), among others, have now emphasized a new issue in the push to change CON:…

Change to surprise billing measure gains ground but draws criticism

The legislative tug-of-war over surprise medical billing continued Thursday as a House panel approved a new version of a Senate bill that aims to curb these unexpected charges to patients. The vote on Senate Bill 56 came as lawmakers were taking action on several health care proposals over the past couple of days. What’s known…

CON revamp fails in House, but sponsor vows to continue fight

Hospital industry lobbying against health care regulatory changes paid off Thursday when the Georgia House voted against major certificate-of-need (CON) legislation by a 94-72 margin. House Bill 198 remained alive temporarily after the chamber approved a motion to reconsider the legislation. But by late afternoon, the lead sponsor, Rep. Matt Hatchett (R-Dublin), said the bill…

Showdown approaches in Georgia House over CON proposal

A regulatory revamp in Georgia health care is hanging in the balance. A pointed TV ad and the fiery tweet that it provoked show the passions swirling around the issue. The state House on Thursday will consider a somewhat trimmed-down version of its originally proposed overhaul of the state’s certificate-of-need (CON) laws. The highly anticipated…

Commentary: Time to reform CON has arrived

Proposed changes to the state’s certificate-of-need program have stirred up a storm at the Georgia General Assembly. The CON system regulates health care facility construction and the provision of medical services in the state. Legislation has been introduced to fundamentally overhaul CON, but hospitals have fought against major changes. In a new GHN Commentary, Lt….

This is the year to finally reform Certificate of Need

Perhaps the biggest health care battle of our lifetime exploded almost a decade ago when Congress rammed through Obamacare. As a result, patient choices have been limited while the cost of health care skyrocketed. What consumers have cried for since then is not only some sanity in the cost of health care, but fewer restrictions…

Stalemate or solution? Legislative fight over surprise billing renewed

The thorny problem of surprise medical billing has once again sparked competing remedies within the General Assembly. Past attempts at a solution have ended in failure and frustration. Whether this year’s bills will actually lead to a resolution is anyone’s guess. Surprise bills occur when consumers have procedures or visit ERs at hospitals in their insurance…

CON laws help hospitals, but they hurt patients

In his recent State of the Union address, President Trump pointed out that although progress is being made on a variety of health care issues, health care costs are just too expensive for the average American. One reason is this: Hospitals are the most expensive delivery point in the health care system, and ironically, an…

Clash over CON bill turns testy under Gold Dome

House Bill 198 will damage the state’s health care system. House Bill 198 will improve access to quality medical services. Those diametrically opposed views resounded during a passionate, occasionally testy three-hour legislative hearing Thursday on the high-profile bill, which would revamp the state’s health care regulatory system. The newly formed House committee on health care…