Notes from the Senate: Healthcare issues, more
By STATE SEN. CHIP PEARSON

Chip Pearson

In some of my previous columns, we've discussed healthcare issues at length. In this day and age, seeking healthcare insurance and patient care can be one of the most confusing things for Americans. But there is no confusion or uncertainty when a child, family member or a loved one is sick or injured. There is only one answer - we need to seek medical attention. As a lawmaker, I feel that healthcare should be centered on the patient - not the doctors, not the hospitals or the insurance companies. In 2008, the Legislature approved some key pieces of legislation that look to offer patients more choices when it comes to seeking healthcare and health insurance in Georgia.

Bipartisan Senate and House efforts in 2008 led to the passage of Senate Bill 433, which makes significant changes to Georgia's Certificate of Need (CON) laws. The bill will allow general surgeons to open ambulatory surgical centers, as long as the cost of the facility does not exceed $2.5 million. This will give patients more options when it comes time for a basic surgical procedure, like having an appendix or tonsils removed. SB 433 also allows hospitals to more easily improve or renovate their facilities without Department of Community Health (DCH) approval. Other restrictions will be lifted, paving the way for Cancer Treatment Centers of America to establish a top-notch cancer treatment center near Atlanta. In the end, CON reform

will increase competition in the marketplace, benefiting those who seek affordable, quality healthcare. Healthcare professionals have been calling for CON reform for years now, so this is a major accomplishment for us in 2008.

A new plan to provide an income tax exemption to companies offering high-deductible healthcare plans coupled with healthcare savings accounts was introduced in the Senate, and found its way to final passage in House Bill 977 and SB 383. These measures will help lower health insurance costs from 10 to 30 percent, reward small businesses with tax savings when they offer low premium health savings accounts to their employees and encourages people to stay healthy by financially rewarding prevention and wellness. HB 977 was launched in the House because the legislation includes tax benefits for working families who are struggling with the high cost of healthcare. The collaborative

efforts of doctors, insurance companies, insurance agents and hospitals worked together for months to bring this needed relief for all Georgians. The passage of the incentive plan for insurers who offer highdeductible plans is another way to give consumers more choices when it comes time to shop for health insurance.

In the summer of 2007, senators and representatives met across the state in the State Stroke System of Care Joint Study Committee with the goal of establishing an integrated system of facilities that deal directly with stroke victims. In 2008, we passed SB 549 to take the first steps to set up a statewide system of stroke care. SB 549 establishes a three-level system of stroke care in Georgia by creating a program to identify certified primary and remote stroke centers. This bill outlines the requirements for patient care and support that must be met by stroke centers to ensure patients are receiving safe and effective care. The measure also offers financial support and grants to acute care hospitals to encourage the development of stroke centers throughout the state. I look forward to seeing continued progress in the area of stroke care in the next session.

Finally, the Senate funded many key healthcare initiatives in the FY 08 and FY 09 budgets. This includes $60 million in total funds for state trauma care providers, which gives trauma centers in our state a boost. The FY 09 budget also includes $98 million in state funds and $341 million in total to fully fund PeachCare for Kids, $3 million for community health centers and $13.6 million in funding for mental health hospitals.

Please feel free to contact Sen. Chip Pearson at his office in Atlanta at 404.656.9221 or by email at chip.pearson@senate.ga.gov.