Georgia Health and Human Services Committee hears bill to require assisted‑living referral disclosure

Summary

Lawmakers and industry witnesses debated Senate Bill 439, which would require referral agencies that connect families to assisted‑living communities to disclose paid placement relationships and cap certain fees; providers cited hidden costs to small operators and families, while referral agents warned of administrative burdens that could impede crisis care.

Sen. Sean Still presented Senate Bill 439 to the Health and Human Services Committee on March 8, proposing new disclosure rules for referral agencies that connect families with assisted‑living and personal‑care homes. He said the measure is intended to protect seniors and relatives by requiring agencies to disclose when placements are driven by paid relationships and to limit placement‑fee practices.

The bill, as described by Sen. Still, adds definitions for assisted living and personal care homes in state code, creates a definition for referral agencies, requires a written disclosure and consumer acknowledgement that a fee may be charged for referrals, limits collection of referral fees after 12 months, and requires confirmation that referred residences are licensed with the Department of Community Health. "Transparency is something I think is ever so important," Sen. Still told the committee as he introduced the measure.

Seth Daniels of the Georgia Senior Living Association, who accompanied the author, told the committee that referral agencies are largely unregulated…

Georgia Health and Human Services Committee hears bill to require assisted‑living referral disclosure

Summary

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