State should adhere to CON panel’s recommendations
February 23, 2007 -- Atlanta, GA -- State Sen. Tim Golden (D-Valdosta) Last week, I was lead co-sponsor of Senate Bill 164, the Certificate of Need Reformation Act of 2007, which provides an extensive revision of Georgia’s certificate of need (CON) program for the licensure of health care facilities. This comprehensive legislation would implement a number of recommendations made, unanimously, by a special CON study commission.

SB 164 would strengthen provisions in the state’s CON law that are related to licensure, review thresholds, definitions of licensed facilities, the makeup and duties of the Health Strategies Council, conditions for obtaining a CON, sanctions and penalties for non-compliance, the certificate application process and administrative appeals, including the creation of a CON Appeal Panel.

But this week, separate legislation (House Bill 568 ) was introduced that goes far beyond the commission’s recommendations and threatens to destabilize Georgia’s already fragile healthcare system. This measure, sponsored by the Perdue administration’s floor leader, would deregulate the ambulatory surgery center and imaging industries in Georgia and would grant a CON exemption for certain “specialty” hospitals.

HB 568 is the source of great concern among leaders in the Georgia health care industry. A spokesperson for the Georgia Hospital Association said the administration’s proposal would lead directly to higher overall health care spending, while threatening the ability of hospitals to maintain basic access to care for citizens across the state. With Georgia hospitals already dealing with the challenges of providing indigent care in the face of cuts to Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement funding, this seems like particularly poor timing for such a proposal.

I will be working in support of the reasonable changes offered by SB 164 and in opposition to the extreme and potentially harmful provisions of HB 568.

This week, the Senate unanimously adopted legislation I co-sponsored that would establish the Georgia Trauma Commission to oversee funding for emergency and catastrophic medical care across the state.

SB 60 also allows hospitals offering emergency trauma services to add additional beds or operating rooms without having to apply for a certificate of need. Trauma injury deaths in Georgia are 20 percent higher than other states, and 700 lives each year could be saved if Georgia improved to reach the national average.

The legislation now goes to the House of Representatives for its consideration.

Georgia lawmakers are hearing good reports from Washington, D.C., about the future of the PeachCare for Kids funding problem. Several members of our state’s congressional delegation, including our own Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-Albany), have visited the State Capitol this week and reported that the issue has the attention of the federal government and we can expect appropriate action to be forthcoming.

Congressman Bishop said he has a commitment from U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that the necessary funding to address a $131 million federal shortfall will be provided in a supplemental appropriations bill in mid-March. PeachCare provides health insurance coverage for 273,000 children of Georgia’s working families, who pay premiums to participate in the program. The federal funding issue has severely slowed our progress in the Senate and House Appropriations Committee to move forward on the fiscal year 2007 supplemental budget and the 2008 annual budget.

The Senate also unanimously approved SB 84, which I co-sponsored, which protects members of the U.S. Armed Forces from unscrupulous marketing practices regarding the sale of insurance coverage.

• State Sen. Tim Golden represents the 8th District (Brooks, Cook, Lowndes and Thomas Counties). During the legislative session, he can be reached at 121-A State Capitol, Atlanta, Ga. 30334; by phone at 404-656-7580; or by e-mail at tim.golden@senate.ga.gov.