In our Legislative Update for Feb. 8, our legislative liaison Scott Maxwell reports that the House has passed the FYA 2019 budget with only a few changes to the Governor’s recommendations. Among budget highlights, the Department of Public Health got a one-time appropriation of $350,000 to help educate Georgians about early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. The bill now travels to a Senate subcommittee.
Some of the other bills we’re following:
HB 17, Smoking inside vehicle when a person under 13 is present; provide for offense (Rep. Sandra Scott-D)
Relating to general provisions regarding offenses against public health and morals, so as to provide for the offense of smoking inside any motor vehicle when a person who is under 13 years of age is present; to provide for a criminal penalty.
HB 160, Bariatric Pilot Program (Rep. Katie Dempsey-R)
Relating to the Department of Community Health, so as to reinstate a pilot program to provide coverage for bariatric surgical procedures for the treatment and management of obesity and related conditions under the state health insurance plan; to provide for eligibility, requirements, and evaluation report for the four-year pilot program; to provide for automatic repeal.
HB 187, To provide a pilot program for treatment and management of obesity (Rep. Katie Dempsey-R)
Relating to the Department of Community Health, so as to provide for a pilot program to provide coverage for the treatment and management of obesity and related conditions, including medications and counseling; to provide for eligibility; to provide for requirements; to provide for a review of results and outcomes; to provide for an evaluation report on such program; and to provide for termination of the pilot program.
