The Georgia Hospital Association helped pass a stripped-down version of the state's earlier certificate of need bill that will grant Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Atlanta expanded privileges, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports.
What you should know:
1. The Georgia Senate passed a version of the CON bill 51-4 during a March 25 vote. The bill advances to the House, which passed more comprehensive CON reform bill earlier in the legislative session.
2. The bill could remove limits to how many Georgia patients Cancer Treatment Centers of America can treat and could allow CTCA to expand in a process similar to other hospitals.
3. The bill classifies CTCA as a general cancer hospital, as such CTCA will not have an emergency room.
4. Additionally, the bill could change how hospitals can object to proposed projects. Currently, county government officials are the only body that can oppose a project if they believe it will hurt a local hospital. The new bill transfers that veto power to any healthcare facility within 35 miles of the proposed project.
5. The Georgia Hospital Association pushed for that to limit future outpatient surgery center development.