Daily report [Feb. 17, 2017]

DAILY REPORT Friday
February 17, 2017

20th Legislative
Day

House Budget & Research Office (404) 656-5050

House Media Services (404) 656-0305

The House will reconvene for its 21st Legislative Day on Tuesday, February 21 at 10:00 a.m. The Rules committee will meet at 9:00 a.m. 6 bills / resolutions are expected to be debated on the Floor.

Today on the Floor

Rules Calendar
HB 9 Crimes and offenses; use of device to film under or through person's clothing under certain circumstances; prohibit
Bill Summary: HB 9 criminalizes the conduct, when knowingly and without consent of the person observed, of using any device or apparatus to observe, photograph, videotape, film, or record underneath such person's clothing for the purpose of viewing intimate body parts or undergarments commonly known as "up skirting" or "down blousing." Moreover, it is unlawful to disseminate any such image or recording. Conduct in violation of HB 9 is punished as a felony.

Authored By: Rep. Shaw Blackmon (146th) House Committee: Judiciary Non-Civil

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 156 Nays: 1

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-13-2017 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 44

General appropriations; State Fiscal Year July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018
Bill Summary: House Bill 44, the Fiscal Year 2018 budget, is set by a revenue estimate of $24.9 billion. This represents an increase of $1.25 billion, or 5.3 percent, over the FY 2017 original budget. The bill, tracking sheet and highlights may be found on the House Budget and Research Office website: http://www.house.ga.gov/budget.

Authored By: Rep. David Ralston (7th) House Committee: Appropriations

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 167 Nays: 1

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Open 02-16-2017 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 138

Superior courts; fifth judge of the Northeastern Judicial Circuit; provide
Bill Summary: This bill amends Code Section 15-6-2(26) to add a fifth superior court judge to the Northeastern Circuit. The additional judge will be appointed by the Governor for a term continuing through December 31, 2020 and until his or her successor is elected. The judge has the same powers, duties, dignity, jurisdiction, privileges, and immunities as other superior court judges, and is authorized to employ court personnel as his or her counterparts in the Northeastern Circuit. The election will be in 2020 and the term, starting January 1, 2021, will be for four years.

Authored By: Rep. Lee Hawkins (27th) House Committee: Judiciary

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 158 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-09-2017 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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Daily Report for February 17, 2017

Next on the Floor

Next on the Floor from the Committee on Rules
The Committee on Rules has fixed the calendar for the 21st Legislative Day, Tuesday, February 21, and bills may be called at the pleasure of the Speaker. The Rules Committee will next meet on Tuesday, February 21, at 9:00 a.m., to set the Rules Calendar for the 22nd Legislative Day.

HB 174 Insurance; insurer's medium of payment of policy or contractual obligations; expand
Bill Summary: House Bill 174 updates and clarifies the method of payment an insurance company may use to pay a claim. These methods include: wire transfer, cashier's check, bank check or draft, electronic funds transfer, gift card, or any other method approved by the commissioner of the Department of Insurance.

Authored By: Rep. Eddie Lumsden (12th) House Committee: Insurance

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Open 02-15-2017 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 206 The Pharmacy Audit Bill of Rights; certain audits conducted by the Department of Community Health; remove exception; provisions
Bill Summary: This bill amends 'The Pharmacy Audit Bill of Rights' and removes an exception relating to faults in certain audits conducted by the Department of Community Health. Any clerical or unintentional error in billing, coding, or required documentation shall not constitute fraud for the medical assistance provided. No such claim shall be subject to criminal penalties without proof of intent to commit fraud. A provider of medical assistance shall be allowed 30 days following notice to the provider of an error or incomplete documentation identified pursuant to an audit or review in order to correct such miscalculation. A provider of medical assistance shall be given the right to a hearing for any attempted withholding of reimbursement or earning by the department or its agents if it correlates to an error, omission, or incomplete documentation relating to the provision of medical assistance.

Authored By: Rep. Trey Kelley (16th) House Committee: Health & Human Services

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Open 02-14-2017 Do Pass

HB 210 Health; certain specimen collection stations and blood banks are not considered clinical laboratories; provide
Bill Summary: This bill qualifies that specimen collection stations and blood banks are not "clinical laboratories" for the purpose of regulation. Clinical laboratory is defined as a facility for the examination of materials derived from the human body for the diagnosis or treatment of any disease. The term "clinical laboratory" shall include specimen collection stations and shall include blood banks which provide a system for the collection, processing, or storage of human blood and include tissue banks which procure, store, or process human or animal tissues designed to be used for medical purposes in human beings.

The term "clinical laboratory" shall not include laboratories which are non-diagnostic only and regulated pursuant to the federal Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) to perform examination of human blood or blood components intended as source material for the manufacture of biological products.

Authored By:

Rep. Jodi Lott (122nd)

House Committee: Health & Human Services

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Open 02-14-2017 Do Pass

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Daily Report for February 17, 2017

Next on the Floor

HB 250 Foster homes; employee with satisfactory fingerprint records check in past 24 months exempt from additional background check; provide
Bill Summary: HB 250 allows an adult who is applying to become a foster parent, providing care for foster children, or is an employee of an early care and education program for children, to submit evidence that he/she has received a satisfactory background and finger print records check within 24 months in lieu of completing the standard application process.

Authored By:

Rep. Mandi Ballinger (23rd)

House Committee: Juvenile Justice

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-09-2017 Do Pass

HB 254 Emanuel County; Board of Education; provide nonpartisan elections for members
Bill Summary: This bill provides for nonpartisan elections for members of the Emanuel County Board of Education.

Authored By:

Rep. Butch Parrish (158th)

House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-16-2017 Do Pass

HB 257 Local government authorities; register with Department of Community Affairs; require
Bill Summary: House Bill 257 streamlines the reporting process for local government authorities to file their statutorily-required reports to the Department of Community Affairs. It narrows the dates of reporting from two dates to one.

Authored By:

Rep. Jan Tankersley (160th)

House Committee: Governmental Affairs

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Open 02-15-2017 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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Daily Report for February 17, 2017

Committee Actions

Committee Actions
Bills passing committees are reported to the Clerk's Office and are placed on the General Calendar.

Insurance Committee
HB 71 Insurance; consumer protections regarding health insurance; provisions
Bill Summary: House Bill 71 provides consumer protections regarding health insurance. Health care providers must disclose to patients, in writing or through a website, the health benefit plans in which they are a participating provider and the hospitals with which the provider is affiliated. HB 71 does not apply to emergency services; health care providers must disclose this information prior to the provision of non-emergency services and verbally at the time an appointment is scheduled. If the healthcare provider is out-of-network, then they shall inform the patient of an estimated amount that the health care provider will bill the patient upon request.
A health care provider who is a physician shall provide contact information for any health care provider that is scheduled to perform services such as anesthesiology, laboratory, pathology, radiology, or assistant surgeon services when care is provided in the physician's office. For a patient's scheduled hospital admission or scheduled outpatient service, the physician shall provide the patient and hospital with contact information for any other physician who will provide service arranged by the physician during the hospital stay or outpatient service.
A hospital shall keep an updated list of standard charges for items and services provided by the hospital, including diagnosis-related groups established under the 'Social Security Act'. They shall also post online information about the health benefit plans in which the hospital is a participating provider, a statement that physicians who are out-of-network may provide services in the hospital, and that the patient should check with the physician to determine the health benefit plans in which the physician participates. The hospital shall provide contact information for contracted physician groups and physicians who may provide services at the hospital. Hospitals shall also provide such information to patients during registration or in admission materials provided in advance of nonemergency hospital services.
On and after January 1, 2018, it shall be a credentialing requirement that doctors who provide services at a hospital must participate in the hospital's benefit plans. A hospital has the power to contract for network participation of its providers if the health care providers are responsible for negotiating all other terms. Negotiations must be conducted in good faith. The obligation to conduct negotiation in good faith is enforceable by the Department of Community Health (DCH) and its commissioner.
An insurer shall provide an enrollee with information that an enrollee can get referred to a health care provider out-of-network when the insurer does not have an in-network provider that is accessible to the enrollee, as well as how the enrollee can obtain such a referral. An insurer shall also provide notice that the enrollee has direct access to primary and preventive pregnancy services from a provider of her choice. An insurer shall provide all contact information to be used by enrollees seeking information from an annually updated list of all contact information for participating providers. This information shall also be posted on the insurer's website. Where applicable, an insurer shall provide a description of the method by which enrollees can submit a claim for their health care service. With respect to out of network coverage, a clear description of the methodology used to determine out of network reimbursement, the amount that the insurer will reimburse, and examples of anticipated out of network costs must be provided. Information must also be provided in writing and online so that the enrollee can estimate anticipated out-of-pocket costs. Written application procedures and minimum qualification requirements for health care providers must be provided.
An insurer shall disclose whether a health care provider scheduled to provide service is in-network and the approximate dollar amount that the insurer will pay for out of network care. Insurers shall inform an enrollee that this approximate amount is not binding and may change.
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Committee Actions

An out-of-network referral denial is a denial of a request on the basis that the health plan benefit has a health care provider in the network. When a denial occurs, the notice of denial shall have information explaining how to appeal the denial.
An insurer shall provide information for how an enrollee may submit a claim for services by providing a description of the methodology used by the insurer to determine reimbursement for out of network health care services and the amount that the insurer will reimburse. They shall provide information that allows the enrollee to anticipate out-of-pocket costs. An insurer shall disclose whether a health care provider is an in-network provider and disclose the approximate dollar amount that the insurer will pay for out-of-network service. The insurer shall inform the enrollee that the approximation is not binding and that the dollar amount the insurer will pay for out-of-network service may change.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Richard Smith (134th) Insurance

Committee Action:

02-17-2017 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 262

Insurance; standalone dental plans; exempt from requirement of printed directories for certain entities
Bill Summary: House Bill 262 exempts stand-alone dental insurance plans from the requirement of publishing printed provider directories.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Eddie Lumsden (12th) Insurance

Committee Action:

02-17-2017 Do Pass

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Daily Report for February 17, 2017

Committee Actions

Committee Meeting Schedule
This meeting schedule is up to date at the time of this report, but meeting dates and times are subject to change. To keep up with the latest schedule, please visit www.house.ga.gov and click on Meetings Calendar.

Monday, February 20, 2017 10:00 AM Kelley Subcomittee of the House Judiciary (Civil) Committee - 132 CAP 11:00 AM Subcommittee 2A- Public Safety & Homeland Security - 406 CLOB 1:00 PM PUBLIC SAFETY & HOMELAND SECURITY - 606 CLOB

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