Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

Georgia House Bill HR397 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version Filed 02/27/2025

                            25 LC 57 0248
House Resolution 397
By: Representatives Cooper of the 45
th
, Silcox of the 53
rd
, Newton of the 127
th
, Au of the
50
th
, and Hawkins of the 27
th
 
A RESOLUTION
Creating the House Study Committee on Healthcare Quality and Reporting; and for other
1
purposes.2
WHEREAS, healthcare quality, cost, and accessibility are key concerns for the residents of3
Georgia; and 4
WHEREAS, the establishment of a standardized healthcare reporting initiative aims to5
measure and improve the quality of healthcare services across the state; and 6
WHEREAS, a comprehensive system for collecting, analyzing, and reporting clinical and7
claims data can improve patient outcomes and reduce overall healthcare costs; and 8
WHEREAS, integrating electronic health records and claims data will enhance transparency9
in healthcare services, improve substance use disorder treatment, and foster clinical research10
in Georgia; and  11
WHEREAS, it is essential to examine the implications of healthcare reporting on providers,12
Medicaid recipients, and insurance entities operating in Georgia; and 13
H. R. 397
- 1 - 25 LC 57 0248
WHEREAS, it is in the State's best interest to ensure that data collection and reporting
14
processes comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and15
other relevant regulations; and16
WHEREAS, penalties and enforcement mechanisms need to be assessed to ensure17
compliance with reporting requirements while minimizing the administrative burden on18
healthcare providers; and19
WHEREAS, it would be beneficial to:20
(1) Evaluate the impact of healthcare reporting on Medicaid care management21
organizations and healthcare providers; 22
(2)  Assess the effectiveness of data integration between clinical and claims records in23
measuring healthcare quality; 24
(3)  Examine best practices for implementing healthcare reporting and ensuring compliance25
among participating entities; 26
(4)  Investigate the role of statewide healthcare data initiatives in supporting reporting27
efforts;28
(5)  Consider the implications of penalties and enforcement measures on Medicaid care29
management organizations and insurers; and 30
(6)  Ensure that healthcare providers are not unduly burdened with costs or administrative31
requirements related to compliance with reporting mandates. 32
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:33
(1)  Creation of House study committee. There is created the House Study Committee34
on Healthcare Quality and Reporting.35
(2)  Members and officers.36
(A)  The committee shall be composed of nine members.37
H. R. 397
- 2 - 25 LC 57 0248
(B)  The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint five members of the
38
House of Representatives.39
(C)  The Speaker shall also appoint an additional four nonlegislative members of the40
committee as follows: 41
(i)  One representative from the Georgia Department of Community Health; 42
(ii)  One representative from a statewide healthcare data initiative; 43
(iii)  One practicing healthcare data analyst; and 44
(iv)  One representative from a Medicaid care management organization. 45
(D)  The Speaker shall also designate a legislative member of the committee as46
chairperson of the committee.47
(3)  Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs,48
issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or49
legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.50
(4)  Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee.  The committee51
may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or52
convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and53
accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.54
(5)  Allowances, expenses, and funding.55
(A)  The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided56
for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.57
(B)  Members of the committee who are state officials, other than legislative members,58
or who are state employees shall receive no compensation for their services on the59
committee, but they may be reimbursed for expenses incurred by them in the60
performance of their duties as members of the committee in the same manner as they61
are reimbursed for expenses in their capacities as state officials or employees.62
(C) Members of the committee who are not legislators, state officials, or state63
employees shall receive a daily expense allowance in an amount the same as that64
H. R. 397
- 3 - 25 LC 57 0248
specified in subsection (b) of Code Section 45-7-21 of the Official Code of Georgia
65
Annotated, as well as the mileage or transportation allowance authorized for state66
employees.67
(D)  The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member68
of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized.  Funds69
necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds70
appropriated to the House of Representatives; except that funds for the reimbursement71
of the expenses of state officials, other than legislative members, and for the72
reimbursement of the expenses of state employees shall come from funds appropriated73
to or otherwise available to their respective agencies.74
(6)  Report.75
(A)  In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that76
include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the77
same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution, subject to78
subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.79
(B)  In the event the committee adopts a report that does not include suggestions for80
proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C)81
of this paragraph.82
(C)  No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of83
abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee. 84
A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with85
the Clerk of the House of Representatives.86
(D)  In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Clerk of the87
House of Representatives a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu88
thereof.89
(7)  Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2025.90
H. R. 397
- 4 -