Sen. Chuck Hufstetler at work on health bills for action in January [GA]
Posted over 9 years ago by Nicholas M Perrino
"In the event of a major disaster in Georgia — such as a hurricane or bioterror attack — medical practitioners from outside the state would not be able to offer assistance.
Sen. Chuck Hufstetler, R-Rome, wants to change that.
His Senate Bill 230 would temporarily credential doctors and nurses from neighboring states to provide aid during such an emergency.
'They'd be immediately qualified to practice, specific to the disaster,' Hufstetler said Sunday.
The legislation was filed after the American College of Surgeons asked him to look into the issue. It's among several of his healthcare-related bills expected to move when the Georgia General Assembly reconvenes in January.
He's also the sponsor of SB 115, which would allow a doctor to delegate to a physician assistant the ability to prescribe hydrocodone compounds.
Hufstetler said that had been allowed in Georgia until last year, when a federal Drug Enforcement Administration ruling moved the Schedule III drugs to the more restricted Schedule II category.
Now it's a problem in under-served rural areas where patients sometimes can't get the painkillers they need, he said. And it's also a problem in urban areas because it's increased the workload of physicians.
'In 40 other states, physician assistants can do this,' Hufstetler said.
The measure was attached to another bill, which passed the Senate this year and is awaiting action in the House.
The House is also expected to take up his SB 114, which deals with physicians delegating some duties to nurse practitioners."