Senate committee clears several bills unanimously, including surprise-billing and pharmacist contraception provisions

The Senate Health and Human Services Committee unanimously approved several bills with limited debate.

House Bill 506 (substitute) — Representative Scott Hilton said the measure adds emergency medical services (EMS) to the Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act after his son experienced a large EMS bill. Committee members had no substantive objections and approved the substitute unanimously.

House Bill 1138 — Representative Camp presented a substitute that would enable pharmacists to prescribe contraception under a protocol to be developed by the pharmacy board and the Department of Public Health. The bill would permit pharmacists who opt in to prescribe up to 12 months of contraception; members asked about drug interactions and continuity of care, and the author said pharmacists can check pharmacy records and counsel patients.

House Bill 970 — Representative Townsend said the bill codifies current high-school sports physical procedures, requires specific kinds of clinicians (physician, DO, PA or nurse practitioner) to perform the exam, and formalizes a cardiovascular assessment and questionnaire for parents and students. Members asked how to avoid future drift toward scanning requirements; the sponsor said the bill tightens history and physical exam elements and does not mandate scans.

House Bill 659 — Representative Gerald Green asked the committee to add optometrists to the list of practitioners eligible for rural-loan forgiveness as Georgia opens an optometry school. Members approved the bill unanimously.

All four items were moved and passed on voice/hand votes; committee records show unanimous approval on each substitute.