ATLANTA — A new year arrived Jan. 1, and that means a new set of laws taking place for Georgia residents; well, sort of.
Most Georgia laws actually go into effect on July 1, not January 1, as the summer date marks the start of a new legislative session. As a result, there's only one significant new law hitting the books when the calendar changes to Jan. 1: the Consumer Access to Contracted Healthcare (CATCH) Act.
What does it do?
Essentially, the CATCH Act makes sure people have access to various forms of care within a reasonable distance of where they live.
The text of the bill states it will "ensure consumer access to quality healthcare by setting adequacy standards for network plans offered by an insurer... to provide for standards for network plans... to prohibit an insurer from denying preauthorization for healthcare services to be performed by a participating provider solely because the referral was made by a nonparticipating provider," and other provisions.
It's a frustration Dr. Cecil Bennett with Newnan Family Medicine Associates knows all too well.
“Many times, I refer patients to specialists, and they're unable to see them because either there are not enough of those specialists in a network, or my patient has to drive too far to access those services," Bennett said.
One of the things the legislation guarantees is access to mental healthcare and substance abuse treatment programs.
“As many as one third of my patients need additional mental health support," Bennett said. “Many times, I would like them to see a therapist. I hear over and over again that my plan does not allow me to see a therapist, or the therapist they set me to, it's an hour drive to get to them.”
A larger choice of pharmacies is also included in the law.
“They may decide that there are only certain pharmacies that they will allow you to access based on their plan," Bennett said. "This will allow broader access for patients to have a choice between which pharmacies they want to go to.”
Finally, the CATCH Act adds protections for patients who use telemedicine.
“A plan may say, yes, you have access to telehealth, but they limit the platforms that you can use, meaning you can only use Zoom, or you can only use Teams," Bennett said. "If all you have is Facetime, you no longer have access to your health care provider.”
Insurance companies have to start reporting their compliance to the state health commissioner annually beginning January 2025.
Other laws taking effect Jan. 1, 2024 in Georgia
Most of these involve regulations tweaks.
- HB 120: Related to "(limiting) driving permits for certain offenders, so as to provide for standards for issuance of such permits."
- HB 128: Intended to "provide for representation of minority business enterprises, women owned businesses, and veteran owned businesses in the area of procurement of state contracts for construction, services, equipment, and goods."
- HB 175: Related to "safe operations of motor carriers, commercial motor vehicles, and drivers and safe transportation of hazardous materials, so as to update the reference date to federal regulations regarding the safe operation of motor carriers and commercial motor vehicles."
- HB 453: Intended to "repeal a requirement that every ambulance service pay an annual license fee; to repeal a requirement that ambulance service annual license fees be deposited into the Indigent Care Trust Fund."
- HB 528: Related to "deceptive or unfair trade practices, so as to enact the 'Georgia Online Automatic Renewal Transparency Act.'"
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