Staff Analysis of the Legislation
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The final version of language from HB 707 was amended onto HB 943 and included the following provisions:
This legislation prohibits county officials or employees from expending money or using human resources or assets to advocate or influence the citizens of this state in support of the voluntary expansion of Medicaid beyond the eligibility criteria in effect under the ACA. Similarly, counties would
be prohibited from starting their own health care exchange or participating in
a health care exchange provided by a nonprofit organization. There are provisions to protect local governments from acting as a part of their official duty, when on personal time, and when providing bona fide educational instruction about the ACA. Nothing in the bill precludes the state from participating in any Medicaid program. Lastly, it prohibits the state, agencies and political subdivisions from establishing, operating, or implementing a navigator program or it's equivalent.
The Commissioner of Insurance has been excluded from the prohibitions in the bill as it applies to the implementation or enforcement under this code section.
The Senate Insurance Committee adopted a substitute that allows the University System of Georgia's grant funded navigator program to continue operation until such time that the grants run out. The bill does not allow for the grants to be renewed.
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