Georgia legislation · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Georgia HB1393: Hospitals; allow rural hospitals to join together to allow further purchasing power with third-party payors but retain their independence
Status: Passed one chamber, March 31, 2026
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 4 of Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to county and municipal hospital authorities, so as to allow rural hospitals to join together to allow further purchasing power with third-party payors but retain their independence; to provide for legislative findings and intentions; to provide for the application doctrine developed in federal antitrust jurisprudence; to provide for construction; to provide for immunity; to provide for collaboration; to provide for joint negotiations with third-party payors; to provide for best practices; to provide for shared staffing; to provide for certain immunity; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
What the bill says
To amend Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health, so as to provide for government efficiency and improved regulation of healthcare facilities and hospital authorities in order to maximize the provision of quality and affordable healthcare services throughout the state; to eliminate certificate of need requirements for all healthcare facilities except certain skilled nursing facilities and related services; to provide for the certificate of need program for skilled nursing facilities…
From the introduced text:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED To amend Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health, so as to provide for government efficiency and improved regulation of healthcare facilities and hospital authorities in order to maximize the provision of quality and affordable healthcare services throughout the state; to eliminate certificate of need requirements for all healthcare facilities except certain skilled nursing facilities and related services; to provide for the certificate of need program for skilled nursing facilities; to authorize the Department of Community Health to administer such program; to provide for rules promulgation; to provide for new institutional health services; to provide for exemptions; to provide for resolution of prior applications; to provide for applications; to provide for indigent care requirements; to provide for scope and term of validity of certificate; to provide for qualifications for issuances of certification; to require applicants to pay certain outstanding debts; to provide for letters of intent; to provide for acceptance or rejection of applications; to provide for the recreation of the Certificate of Need Appeal Panel; to provide for appeal procedure and judicial review; to provide for discretionary and automatic revocation; to provide for participation as a Medicaid provider; to provide for the Department of Community Health to submit annual reports; to provide for exemptions for the certificate of need …