Bill > HB662

This bill amends the definition of "rural hospital organization" in Georgia's tax credit regulations to expand the types of healthcare facilities that can qualify. Specifically, the bill broadens the definition to include not just acute care hospitals but also rural freestanding emergency departments. The definition now allows facilities that have their primary campus or an outpatient emergency clinic in a rural county or are a critical access hospital to be considered a rural hospital organization. The bill maintains existing requirements such as participating in both Medicaid and Medicare, providing healthcare services to indigent patients, having at least 10% of annual net revenue from indigent or charity care, filing appropriate tax forms, being operated by a municipal authority or having tax-exempt status, being current on required audits, and having a patient margin within a specified range. The changes aim to provide more flexibility in defining rural healthcare organizations for tax credit purposes, potentially supporting healthcare access in rural Georgia communities.

Health and Social Services

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70947