Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

Georgia House Bill HB795 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	25 LC 60 0110
2	2	House Bill 795
3	3	By: Representatives Cannon of the 58
4	4	th
5	5	, Hugley of the 141
6	6	st
7	7	, Gilliard of the 162
8	8	nd
9	9	, Miller of
10	10	the 62
11	11	nd
12	12	, and Berry of the 56
13	13	th
14	14
15	15	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
16	16	AN ACT
17	17	To amend Article 1 of Chapter 2A of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
18	18	1
19	19	relating to the Department of Public Health generally, so as to establish an Infant Wellness2
20	20	Resource hotline service; to provide for the development and dissemination of materials3
21	21	promoting such hotline service; to provide for the development and implementation of4
22	22	training for staff of such hotline service; to provide for the Department of Administrative5
23	23	Services to select healthcare professionals to deliver healthcare services via telehealth6
24	24	through such hotline service; to provide certain persons participating in the activities of such7
25	25	hotline service with immunity from civil and criminal liability; to authorize rules and8
26	26	regulations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.9
27	27	BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:10
28	28	SECTION 1.11
29	29	Article 1 of Chapter 2A of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the12
30	30	Department of Public Health generally, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as13
31	31	follows:14
32	32	"31-2A-21.
33	33	15
34	34	(a) As used in this Code section, the term:16
35	35	H. B. 795
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37	37	(1) 'Department' means the Department of Public Health.17
38	38	(2) 'Emergency' means a condition or set of circumstances demanding immediate18
39	39	attention to prevent death or substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major19
40	40	bodily function.20
41	41	(3) 'Healthcare professional' means a physician, nurse, or other healthcare practitioner21
42	42	licensed, registered, or certified by the state to provide healthcare services consistent with22
43	43	his or her scope of practice.23
44	44	(4) 'Healthcare services' means services for the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, cure,24
45	45	or relief of a physical health condition, illness, injury, or disease.25
46	46	(5) 'Hotline service' means the Infant Wellness Resource hotline service established26
47	47	pursuant to this Code section.27
48	48	(6) 'Infant' means a child under three years of age.28
49	49	(7) 'Telehealth' means the use of electronic information and telecommunications29
50	50	technologies that include, at minimum, audio and video equipment permitting two-way,30
51	51	real-time interactive communication to support and promote long-distance healthcare31
52	52	services between a caller and a healthcare professional.32
53	53	(b) Subject to available funding, the department shall establish and maintain, on a 24 hour33
54	54	per day basis, an Infant Wellness Resource hotline service, which shall receive and respond34
55	55	to calls from persons who are seeking help for an infant who is experiencing a health issue35
56	56	or illness, in accordance with subsection (c) of this Code section, and for any other purpose36
57	57	provided for in this Code section.37
58	58	(c) Upon receipt of a call, hotline service staff shall promptly identify whether the call is38
59	59	an emergency. If hotline service staff deem that the call:39
60	60	(1) Is not an emergency, such staff shall either refer or directly connect the caller to40
61	61	appropriate state and local programs, healthcare services, healthcare professionals, and41
62	62	other resources that can be accessed by the caller and used to address, mitigate, and42
63	63	potentially eliminate the health issue or illness. Referrals and connections made pursuant43
64	64	H. B. 795
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66	66	to this paragraph may be facilitated through the use of telephone or digital44
67	67	communications, including, but not limited to, text message, email, or online support45
68	68	chat. Hotline service staff shall not provide direct healthcare services. Callers referred46
69	69	for healthcare services under this paragraph shall be provided the opportunity to consult47
70	70	with an authorized healthcare professional via telehealth within two business days; or48
71	71	(2) Is an emergency, such staff shall immediately effectuate a warm hand-off of the49
72	72	caller to staff at 9-1-1 emergency services. A warm hand-off performed under this50
73	73	paragraph shall involve hotline service staff using teleconferencing technology to transfer51
74	74	the call; remaining on the line and accessible to the caller during the transfer of the call; 52
75	75	formally introducing the caller to the staff member receiving the call at 9-1-1 emergency53
76	76	services; and summarizing, for such receiving staff member, the information that54
77	77	necessitated the transfer of the call. At no time during a warm hand-off conducted55
78	78	pursuant to this paragraph shall a caller be placed on hold.56
79	79	(d) The Department of Administrative Services shall, in coordination with the department,57
80	80	select and contract with ten or more healthcare providers, as it deems necessary, to provide58
81	81	healthcare services via telehealth pursuant to this Code section. All healthcare services59
82	82	provided pursuant to such contracts shall be provided by healthcare professionals licensed60
83	83	to provide such services under the laws of this state. The factors used to select such61
84	84	healthcare professionals shall include, but shall not be limited to:62
85	85	(1) A demonstrated ability to maximize payment for healthcare services from63
86	86	commercial insurers and other third parties;64
87	87	(2) The ability to provide healthcare services in a language fluently spoken by the callers65
88	88	receiving such services;66
89	89	(3) A demonstrated record of providing healthcare services via telehealth to infants;67
90	90	(4) The ability to use information technology to track healthcare services provided and68
91	91	outcomes for program evaluation purposes; and69
92	92	H. B. 795
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94	94	(5) A financial model that allows the healthcare professional to serve all callers,70
95	95	regardless of whether such callers make a copayment or have third-party insurance71
96	96	coverage.72
97	97	(e) The department shall, subject to the availability of funding, develop, implement, and73
98	98	disseminate materials and training, including, but not limited to, the following:74
99	99	(1) Training programs and curricula to be used in training hotline service staff to75
100	100	recognize and respond to an emergency; to identify the appropriate state and local76
101	101	programs, healthcare services, healthcare professionals, and resources for callers; and to77
102	102	use any technology related to carrying out the provisions of subsection (c) of this Code78
103	103	section;79
104	104	(2) Promotional materials to be placed in conspicuous places throughout the state in clear80
105	105	view of the public where similar notices are customarily posted; and81
106	106	(3) A description of the hotline service to be placed on the department's website.82
107	107	(f)(1) In addition to the general administration of the hotline service, funds appropriated83
108	108	for the hotline service may be expended for the following purposes:84
109	109	(A) Reimbursing healthcare professionals for healthcare services provided to callers85
110	110	who do not have coverage under government or private policies;86
111	111	(B) Developing and implementing training as provided in subsection (e) of this Code87
112	112	section; and88
113	113	(C) Developing and disseminating promotional materials as provided in subsection (e)89
114	114	of this Code section.90
115	115	(2) Funds appropriated for the hotline service shall not be used to reimburse any person91
116	116	for copayments required by a commercial insurance policy.92
117	117	(g) Any person or persons participating in making referrals to callers or connecting callers93
118	118	with state and local programs, healthcare services, healthcare professionals, and other94
119	119	resources pursuant to this Code section or participating in any judicial proceeding or any95
120	120	other proceeding resulting from such referrals or connections shall in so doing be immune96
121	121	H. B. 795
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123	123	from any civil or criminal liability that might otherwise be incurred or imposed, provided97
124	124	that such participation pursuant to this Code section or any other law is made in good faith.98
125	125	(h) The department is authorized to adopt rules and regulations to implement the99
126	126	provisions of this Code section."100
127	127	SECTION 2.101
128	128	All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.102
129	129	H. B. 795
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