“Based upon the testimony, research presented, and information received, the Study Committee on Certificate of Need Reform has found that the problem Georgia’s CON law was intended to combat no longer exists,” the report said. 

However, the head of the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals said Tuesday that repealing the law would be a bad idea.

“It would have a devastating financial impact on hospitals and the quality and access to health care,” Monty Veazey, the alliance’s chief executive, told State Affairs.

Veazey said he has not seen the recommendations yet but his organization has sent its own set of recommendations to the senate and house study committees. 

“We believe that the certificate of need really does need some modernization and we look forward to working with the committee to work through those recommendations and see if we can reach a compromise position during the upcoming legislative session,” Veazey said. “We still want to see what the House committee recommends before moving forward.”

Here’s what the senate study committee recommends, according to a draft:

• Repeal CON requirements for obstetrics services, neonatal intensive care, birth centers and all services related to maternal and neonatal care across Georgia.

• End requirements for hospital-based CON on Jan. 1, 2025.

• Reform CON laws to eliminate CON review for new and expanded inpatient psychiatric services and beds that serve Medicaid patients and the uninsured.

• Repeal all cost expenditure triggers for CON.

• All medical and surgery specialties should be considered a single specialty, including cardiology and general surgery.

• Multi-specialty centers should be allowed, particularly in rural areas.

• Remove CON for hospital bed expansion.

• Revise freestanding emergency department requirements such that they must be within 35 miles of an affiliated hospital.

• Remove CON for research centers.

The committee will present its recommendations to the Georgia General Assembly when it reconvenes in January.

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The proposed maps do not significantly alter the district lines for Sen. Valencia Seay, D-Riverdale, and Sen. Marty Harbin, R-Tyrone, whose districts Jones ruled did not comply with the Voting Rights Act. It will be up to Jones to decide if the new maps pass muster. 

As it stands, the proposed Senate map will leave Republicans with a 33-23 advantage in the Senate.

On Wednesday legislators will plunge into their redistricting work during a special session at the Capitol. In addition to the state Senate maps, lawmakers must also redraw electoral maps to create Black majorities in one additional congressional district in west-metro Atlanta, and in five additional state House districts in Atlanta and the Macon-Bibb County area.

The proposed Senate maps (and all proposed maps to be submitted by legislators) are available on the Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Office’s website. Written comments can be submitted (and viewed) by the public through the portal available on the Georgia General Assembly website. Most of the reapportionment and redistricting committee’s hearings are open to the public; the daily legislative schedule is available here.

“The committee encourages public participation and values the input of the community in this vital democratic process,” Echols said in a statement released on Monday.

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Have questions, comments or tips? Contact Jill Jordan Sieder on X @journalistajill or at [email protected].

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