Champions for Mental Health
The Advocacy Center
February 1st 2021 | Issue 21
2021 Legislative Session
This week during the Legislative Session, the House and Senate adopted adjournment resolution through Legislative Day 13. The House Appropriations Committee took action on January 28th, 2021 and passed HB 80, FY 2021 Amended Budget. The Senate will continue Appropriation Meetings this week.
Budget Updates
House Budget: The General Appropriations Act HB 80

The House Appropriations Committee proposed a Budget on January 27th. The House passed the General Appropriations Act HB80 on January 28th. Some notable distinctions to the Governor's budget include;

  • A reduction of more than $860,000 in the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities’ Adult Forensic Services program.
  • An addition of more than $478,000 in the Department of Community Health’s Healthcare Facility Regulation program for stabilizing staffing in the nursing home program
  • Approximately $2.6 million in the Department of Education’s Quality Basic Education program for growth in the Special Needs Scholarship
  • An addition of more than $840,000 in the Department of Education’s Technology/Career Education program to offset the austerity reduction Extended Day/Year, Vocational Supervisors, Industry Certification, and Youth Apprenticeship program.
  • A few significant changes within the Department of Human Services’ Child Welfare program.
Senate Budget

Appropriation Subcommittees met on Friday, January 29th, 2021. The recordings for the subcommittee presentations and related agenda can be found below. The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee meetings will resume Today, February 1st.


A schedule for this week's upcoming Senate hearings can be found here.

Session Updates
Legislative Tracking
There was movement on a handful of bills throughout last week. For a full list of bills we are tracking and their current status, download our legislative update below.
HB 9: Education, Department of; develop guidelines for use of Telehealth services in public schools (Rep. Sandra Scott 76th District) Require for Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and others, to develop guidelines for the use of Telehealth services in public schools to provide mental health and behavioral health services to students at school or during any school related function

HB49: Mental Health Parity Act: (Rep Shelly Hutchinson 107th District) Require that insurer treatment of claims concerning mental and substance use disorders are treated in parity with other health insurance claims.
 
HB 115 Insurance; prohibit certain insurers from using information derived from genetic testing for any nontherapeutic purpose in the absence of a diagnosis of a condition related to such information: (Rep Mike Wilensky 79th District) Prohibit certain insurers from using information derived from genetic testing for any non-therapeutic purpose in the absence of a diagnosis of a condition related to such information.


 
HB 128 Health; prohibit providers from discriminating against potential organ transplant recipients due solely to the physical or mental disability of the potential recipient: (Rep Rick Williams 145th District) Prohibit providers from discriminating against potential organ transplant recipients due solely to the physical or mental disability of the potential recipient.

HB 163 Community Health, Department of; submit state plan amendment to implement express lane enrollment in Medicaid; direct: (Rep Sharon Cooper 43rd District) Direct the Department of Community Health to submit a state plan amendment to implement express lane enrollment in Medicaid.

HB 164 Prescription Drug Consumer Financial Protection Act; enact: (Rep Demetrius Douglas 78th District) Require all health insurers to pass along no less than 80 percent of all prescription drug rebates to enrollees that such insurer receives from third parties with regard to such enrollee's prescription drugs.

HB 193 Courts; sexual assault protocol; require certain certifications to be filed; provisions: (Rep Steven Sainz 180th District) Provide for the refusal, suspension, or revocation of the license of a physician who has committed a sexual assault on a patient.
SB16: Georgia Commission on Women; Georgia Commission on Black Women and Girls: (Sen Tonya Anderson 43rd District): Create the Georgia Commission on Black Women and Girls.

SB47: Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Act; revise (Sen Steve Gooch 51st District) Revise the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Act to expand eligibility for students.
National Biden Administration Updates
Executive Orders

"Mr. Biden's executive order allows for HealthCare.gov, the federal health insurance marketplace, to open for a special enrollment period from February 15 to May 15, which will allow Americans more time to sign up for health insurance coverage. The order also directs federal agencies to review rules and policies to ensure they do not hinder Americans' access to health care, such as those that may reduce affordability of health coverage or undermine the Affordable Care Act's protections for people with pre-existing conditions. - CBS News"

Read more here and here.
 Upcoming Community & Advocacy Events


AFSP 2021 GA State Capitol Day

AFSP State Capitol Day is hosting a virtual event on Friday February 5, 12pm-1pm to advocate for state policy changes that will improve mental health and prevent suicide. Advocates will have an opportunity to meet with legislators.
Join the Georgia Recovery Community for this historic ARAD. The 2021 ARAD Official Session is your opportunity to hear from recovery leaders and state leaders on those issues important to the Georgia Recovery Community. You will learn how to speak up for recovery, about the issues impacting recovery, and learn how to be a positive and powerful voice for recovery. Breakout sessions including workshops on topics such as Art, Yoga, Faith, Film, Food and many others. Register for the opening session and following breakout sessions below.
Behavioral Health Town Hall Series
Mental Health America of Georgia hosted a series of virtual town halls to inform and advocate for Georgia’s communities impacted by mental health conditions. The town halls offered information and recommendations on the political determinants of Mental Health and Wellness. Each town hall topic discussed the intersection of mental health in the community and policy recommendations to improve mental health outcomes in specific population groups. Please review our past town halls to become more informed of the impacts in our communities.
Mental Health At The Capital

Georgia's Behavioral Health Services Coalition joined with behavioral health peers and allies at the Georgia State Capitol to advocate for more high quality, evidence-based, culturally-sensitive behavioral health supports, services, and treatments for all Georgians. If you missed the event on January 19th, please view the recording and agenda for the event below!
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For free and confidential emotional support or resource information as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, call or text 866-399-8938.
MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA OF GEORGIA