House agrees to allow APRNs and PAs to sign home‑health orders, citing rural access concerns
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Summary
The House agreed to the Senate substitute to House Bill 54 enabling advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and physician assistants (PAs) to sign orders for home‑health services; the motion passed 57–0 after sponsors cited COVID‑era precedent and rural access benefits.
The Georgia House voted 57–0 to agree to the Senate substitute to House Bill 54, which permits advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and physician assistants (PAs) to sign orders for home‑health services.
Representative Clark explained the House‑passed bill originally allowed physician assistants to sign home‑health orders; the Senate substitute added APRNs to that authority. Clark and other supporters described the policy as restoring and expanding flexibility that had been used during the COVID‑19 public‑health emergency under executive order and argued it would improve access to home‑health care, particularly in rural areas.
On the floor, supporters noted Georgia had been among the last states to adopt the change and highlighted potential benefits for speeding access to services for patients who require home health. There were no recorded floor objections or substantive amendments during the brief explanation and question period.
The clerk recorded the vote on the motion to agree to the Senate substitute as 57 yeas, 0 nays; the House therefore agreed to the Senate substitute as amended by the House.