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Committee backs bill letting single rural emergency hospital qualify for Georgia Heart program
Summary
Lawmakers recommended do‑pass for House Bill 662 to allow a rural emergency hospital and affiliated freestanding outpatient emergency clinic to participate in the Georgia Heart tax‑credit program after a CMS classification accidentally disqualified the provider.
A House committee recommended passage of House Bill 662 after Representative Osteen and a witness said a rural facility in her district lost eligibility for the Georgia Heart tax‑credit program after it sought a federal CMS classification as a rural emergency hospital.
"In 2022, CMS provided rural hospital could become a rural emergency hospital," Representative Osteen said, explaining that one hospital in her rural South Georgia district chose the CMS classification and, as a result, was disqualified from the Georgia Heart Program. Osteen said the facility depends on that program "to stay open. Without the heart, they will close." She asked Monte Veasey to testify about the local circumstances.
Veasey told the committee the measure would allow that single facility to participate in the Georgia Heart Program and proposed a technical amendment adding language to include facilities that "operate an outpatient emergency department." Committee members questioned whether the amendment should use the word "department" or "clinic" and asked whether a freestanding emergency clinic differs from urgent care. Veasey said the freestanding clinic in Catoosa County is affiliated with Florida Medical, is open 24/7 year‑round, does not have inpatient beds, and serves a county with a population under 50,000.
The committee approved the bill and then approved the amendment adding "or operates an outpatient emergency department." The chair announced the bill as LC339781, "do pass," first without the amendment and then again as amended; both actions were recorded as voice votes. The transcript does not include a roll‑call tally or the names of the motion maker and seconder.
Sponsor and staff described the change as narrowly targeted to a single rural provider that lost eligibility because of the CMS classification and would restore access to the Georgia Heart tax credit for that provider. The amendment language was presented verbally at the hearing and adopted by the committee.
The committee advanced the bill to the next stage with the amendment in place.
