The House of Georgia approves the measure for the CON reform.

In Atlanta, the members of the GeorgiaHouse of Representatives passed a bill that will significantly change the state's laws regarding hospital construction and the provision of medical services, but it does not completely abolish them. Bill No. 1339, passed with a vote of 166-1 and sent to the state Senate, includes amendments to the 45-year-old Certificate of Need (CON) law in Georgia aimed at making healthcare more accessible, especially in rural areas. Last year, a state Senate committee recommended repealing the CON law as a barrier to quality healthcare in Georgia.

In the House of Representatives, the committee formed by Speaker John Burns concluded that reforming, rather than abolishing, the CON represents a more realistic approach. The Perrish Act includes provisions aimed at expediting the review of CON applications by the state agency. The measure also removes spending thresholds for hospital construction and increases the state tax credit cap in support of rural hospitals from $75 million per year to $100 million. The legislation places special emphasis on the need for mental health and obstetrics, with new exceptions to the CON law for certain psychiatric and obstetric services.

Although only one lawmaker voted against the legislation, several lawmakers argued that it was not enough. Rep. Michelle Au pointed out that Georgia suffers from the second highest rate of uninsured citizens in the country, a problem that could be solved if the state's political leaders agreed to expand Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Forty states, including many with Republican governors and legislators, have approved Medicaid expansion in the 12 years since Congress passed the ACA. But Governor Brian Kemp and Georgia GOP leaders have not agreed to fully expand Medicaid, citing cost.

“We need to address the issue of high uninsured rates and close the coverage gap.”- said Au on Tuesday. "We know what needs to be done. We're just not brave enough to do it."