The 2015 session
has ended! Out of a
total of 945 bills filed,
188 are awaiting the
Governor Deal’s signature. After 40 days,
everything passed by
the legislature automatically becomes
law unless vetoed by the Governor. Lawmakers made progress in a variety of legislative areas this year, but the
session was dominated by a handful of high-profile issues: transportation, medical marijuana (both of which
passed), and the “Religious Freedom” Bill (which did not, but expect to see it again in 2016).
Medical Marijuana: What you need to know
Regarding HB 1, we woud like to point out a few key provisions of the version that was passed and consequently
signed into law: HIV and glaucoma were removed from the list of conditions eligible to be treated with low-THC
oil, and it is NOT lawful for low-THC oil to be possessed or controlled by anyone who is not specifically
involved in a clinical research program OR who is not registered with the Department of Public Health as
being eligible to possess low-THC Oil. This means that school healthcare professionals are NOT authorized to
hold, store, or administer low-THC oil to students at school.
Nurses & The State Budget
The legislature increased funds for school nurses: $339,021 for salaries by formula and $ 292,336 for Employee
Retirement System--for a total of $631,357.
Federal Legislation: More Good News
The United States House of Representatives passed HR 2, repealing the Medicare provision that has long threatened cuts in doctors’ fees and extends CHIP for two more years. HR 2 also included a two-year extension for the
Special Diabetes Program (SDP). SDP is made up of the Special Statutory Funding Program for Type 1 Diabetes
Research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Special Diabetes Program for Indians at the Indian
Health Service, and represents a significant portion of the federal government’s commitment to combat, prevent
and cure diabetes. The American Diabetes Association fought for these two programs to be included in the final
SGR package and while we would have loved to see them both extended for four years, we are celebrating the
two year extensions for these vital diabetes programs.
Keep reading to see how other relevant bills fared in the state legislature this session:
Responsibility for calculating annual
SB 1, the Autism Insurance Coverage
SENT TO GOVERNOR FOR
cost
adjustment
moved
from
GovMandate.
SIGNATURE INTO LAW
HB 1: Medical Marijuana
Passed & signed. Allows for the use of
cannabis oil in treatment of specific
medical conditions.
HB 110: Fireworks
Legalizes the sale of fireworks.
HB 131: End to Cyberbullying Act
HB 177: Child Abuse Reports
from Schools
Requires child protective services to
notify school personnel who report
child abuse upon report receipt and
close of investigation.
HB 385: Medical Records
ernor’s OPB to the Department of
Community Health.
HB 394: Allows RPN & LPN programs from outside US to be licensed
under certain conditions and strengthens requirements for all licenses. Authorizes new nursing board to enforce
all investigative and disciplinary orders
issued by the former Georgia Board
of Examiners of Licensed Practical
Nurses.
HB 429: Insurance Restrictions
Stipulates that no health benefit plan
can restrict coverage due to terminal
diagnosis. Includes language from
HB 436: Requires HIV & syphilis
tests to be offered to pregnant
women in third trimester
Amended to incorporate intent of HB
53, removing pre-counseling requirement before HIV test. Also amended
to add SB 114, removing cap on number of APRNs supervised by a physician in public mental health clinics
(Community Service Boards).
HB 504: Pharmacists under a physician’s protocol order can administer
meningococcal, pneumococcal, and
shingles vaccines. The pharmacy must
also meet other requirements. (cont.)
Also requires a meningococcal vaccine for college students.
HB 511: Pharmacy Technicians
authorized to refill remote automated
medication systems in skilled nursing
facilities and hospices.
HR 640: Joint Study Committee on Health, Education, and
School-Based Health Centers
HR 641: Study Committee on
Children’s Mental Health
HR 765: Study Committee on
School Counselors
HR 766: Study Committee on Bullying in Schools
SB 8: Safe Harbor for Sexually
Exploited Children’s Fund
Funded by fees paid by the adult entertainment industry, and from fines
and forfeitures for criminal acts against
children.
SB 51: Biosimilars
Provides for substitutions of interchangeable biological products by
pharmacists and pharmacies. Amended to include language from house
version (HB 195).
SB 109: Physician Orders for
Life-Sustaining Treatment Forms
Provides alternate terminology for
DNR orders.
SB 126: DPI EpiPen Access
Passed. PAs and APRNs may prescribe
auto-injectable epinephrine in the
name of a public or private school for
use in emergencies in accordance with
a protocol specified by a physician.
HB 362 was added to allow public or
private schools in GA to stock a supply
of albuterol and inhalers for emergency use.
SR 487: Study Committee on Preventing Youth Substance Abuse
Disorders
SR 594: Study Committee on
ADHD
DID NOT PASS BUT REMAIN
ALIVE FOR 2016 SESSION
HB 28: Opioid Education for Con-
trolled Substances
scribing Controlled Substances
HB 34: Georgia Right to Try Act
Provides for use of investigational
drugs, biological products, and devices
for patients with advanced illnesses.
HB 588: Pseudoephedrine Registry
HB 53: HIV Testing
Person consenting to provision of
medical care by a health care provider
operates as consent for such provider
to perform an HIV test.
SB 34: Would provide immunity
for persons removing a child from
parked motor vehicle.
HB 212: Pain Mgmt. Clinics
Would allow for CRNA to administer
medications on-site at a PMC without
a physician present.
HB 287: Ethical Treatment of Human Embryos Act
HB 321: Health Records Requests & Fees
Revises provisions regarding imposition of costs for providing copies.
HB 349: PAs & Schedule II Drugs
Authorizes a physician to delegate to
a physician assistant the authority to
prescribe Schedule II controlled substances under certain conditions.
HB 359: Professional Counselors
To change certain provisions relating
to separate standards committees for
the professional counseling specialty,
the social work specialty, and the marriage and family therapy specialty
HB 395: Psychological Testing
Defines ‘psychological tests’ and who
can administer and interpret such
tests.
HB 406: Sexual Abuse and Assault Awareness and Prevention
To provide for age-appropriate education in sexual abuse and assault for
K-12 students.
HB 472: Permits students to exit
a classroom for use of the restroom
upon request.
HB 498: Redefine Professional
Counselors
HB 501: Health Care Data System
HB 537: Single administrator for
dental services for Medicaid recipients
and PeachCare for Kids participants.
HB 564: Physician CME for Pre-
HB 692: Marriage & Family Therapists authorized to sign 1013
SB 3: Supporting and Strengthening Families Act
Power of attorney from parent to another person for temporary delegation
of care for a minor child.
SB 86: Jackson Healthcare Tort
Reform
SB 87: Physician Board Certification
Truth in advertising bill relating to use
of specialty designation on signage and
in advertising.
SB 115: PAs & Schedule II Drugs
SB 143: State Health Benefit
Plan
Insurance plans covering state employees must include access to all Level 1
Trauma Centers located in the plans’
service areas. Did not pass.
SB 130: Smoking in vehicle with
person under the age of 15 shall be
guilty of a misdemeanor. Recommitted after house judiciary changed bill
significantly from Senate version.
SB 176: Football Helmets
Recommitted. Elementary and secondary education, to require that yhouth
athletes participating in gridiron football shall be equipped with and wear
a helmet which has at least a 4-star
rating on the Virginia Tech Helmet
Ratings scale.
SB 185: Cannabidiol Oil
Senate version of HB 1. Did not pass.
Elements incorporated into HB 1,
which did pass.
SB 158: Consumer & Provider
Protection Act
Reforms patient and provider contracting in health insurance. A study
committee is expected to meet over the
summer.