Bill > HB1299

This bill allows county and municipal hospital authorities in Georgia to acquire, develop, operate, or equip certain outpatient healthcare facilities, specifically defined as "rural joint venture outpatient healthcare facilities." These facilities are freestanding medical centers providing diagnostic, treatment, or rehabilitative services for less than 24 continuous hours, and they cannot be hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living communities, or personal care homes. The bill clarifies that a "rural county" is one with a population under 50,000, excluding military personnel and their dependents. Hospital authorities can enter into these ventures if the facility is located in the same rural county as an existing hospital they own or operate, and if the authority controls it. The ownership structure requires the hospital authority to own at least 51% and a single group of physicians practicing the same medical specialty to own no more than 49%. This provision aims to promote public health needs in communities served by these hospital authorities.

Government Affairs

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73176