Medicaid

The FY 09 Budget includes $1.5 million of state funds, with federal matching funds a total of $4 million, to raise the Medicaid reimbursement rates to 86% of the 2007 Medicare rates was still included.  The House Appropriations Committee put these funds in the FY 09 Budget, and these funds were maintained in the Senate’s version of the budget, as well as the final conference committee report.  This was the major item that GAEMS lobbied for during the session. GAEMS pushed for Medicare reimbursement rates to be equal to the 2007 Medicare rates, as well as reimbursement for the first ten miles of transport.  While we did not reach that goal, what the legislature did put in the budget was a huge step forward, and GAEMS is thankful for their efforts. It took much courage for the legislature to put these funds in the budget, when they were originally not included.  These funds were included in the FY 09 Budget, which was signed into law by Governor Perdue on Wednesday, May 14th.

Trauma

At 10:00p.m.on the final day of the session, the House and Senate came to agreement on a permanent funding source for trauma. However, the Speaker stated that despite the agreement, he would not pass a trauma bill without a tax reduction.  Therefore, the trauma bill, HB 1158, was not passed and no permanent funding source has been established.  However, the FY 08 Amended Budget included approximately a $60 million one time appropriation to the trauma commission, as well as an additional $5.5 million for the commission to purchase ground or air ambulances. 

Ambulance License Fees

SB 479 is the bill that was introduced by GAEMS to lower and cap the ambulance license fees, and carried by Senator Jeff Mullis.  In the House Health and Humans Services, we offered a substitute version of the bill that was approved unanimously by the committee. The bill no longer lowers the ambulance license fee and caps it.  The substitute now requires DCH to annually provide a report on the amount of license fees raised, the amount matched by federal dollars, and the total amount remitted to EMS Services. The goal of this new version is to make this information automatically available in a report without anyone having to request this information. Additionally, it will help us to make sure that the money is being spent appropriately.  Additionally, we introduced this substitute with concerns that cutting the fees might potentially affect the Medicaid increases EMS just received.  SB 479 was signed into law by Governor Perdue on Friday, May 9th.

Urging Resolutions

SR 1292 is a senate urging resolution (which is non-binding) that urges the State of Georgia to create a specialized training program for EMS at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC), and to not do so before appropriate funding would be provided to GPSTC. This resolution was a great step to highlight to legislators the additional need for specialized training for EMS.

SR 1293 urges the State Office of EMS and Trauma to initiate the development of new state licensure exams for EMTs and Paramedics, and for the SOEMS/T to receive funding for the creation of the exams.

Stroke System of Care

SB 549 was passed and awaits the Governors signature. GAEMS worked to remove language that required EMS to follow bypass protocols and would have required EMS to follow any protocols established by the state office.  There are no longer any mandates on EMS in the bill. The state office will still establish protocols, furnish a list of all stroke centers in the state and provide it to all EMS providers, and will adopt or develop a sample stroke triage tool.

Other Legislation

SB 33 creates an emergency mapping information system for public safety, and GEMA is behind this bill. Previously, EMS would have been excluded from having access. However, the bill has been change to allow any federal, state, or local public safety entity to have access to the system.

SB 254 is a major revision of the indemnification laws, and would increase benefits to those eligible, including EMS. An example is that currently you must be blinded in both eyes to be considered disabled under the fund. Now, you would only have to be blinded, or partially blinded, in one eye. Recipients will now also receive an increased benefit.

SB 435 changes the name of the Department of Technical and Adult Education to the Technical College System of Georgia.

HB 77 is the infamous red-light camera bill. This bill was changed in the Senate for local governments to seek permission for the DOT to install cameras, and provide evidence that there is a safety hazard that can be addressed by installing the camera.

HB 1031 requires AEDs in all high schools. Private funding has been identified to help the roughly 30 school systems that currently do not have AEDs.

HB 1234 is a revision of laws concerning CMOs, and it addresses many of the concerns healthcare providers have expressed in their relationships with CMOs. It also sets up additional penalties for CMOs, as well requiring non-contracted providers to receive payment at the Medicaid rates paid by DCH, and not a lower rate.

Non - Passing Legislation

SR 515 would have allowed local governments to provide homestead exemptions to different types of public safety personnel.

SB 305 would have allowed additional exemption from civil liability for those organizations providing relief in a disaster situation.

SB 394 would have set up for a portion of red light camera revenues to go towards trauma care, but the bill was reported unfavorably from committee.

SB 402 which would set up a commission to review non-emergency healthcare transport administered by several state agencies, has failed to pass out of committee in the House.