Georgia Legislature Approves Major Medical Bills In 2015
Georgia’s legislative session recently ended. This week, we’re looking back at what happened under the Gold Dome, topic by topic. The legislature passed several major medical bills this year.
Legislation for autism treatment coverage and medical marijuana died in the final hours of last year’s legislative session. This year, both passed. The legislation decriminalizes cannabis oil for Georgians with eight different medical conditions. They include: Crohn’s disease, epilepsy and mitochondrial disease. Shannon Cloud hopes the oil is able to help her daughter, Alaina. She has a genetic disorder called Dravet Syndrome, which causes severe seizures.
“Our daughter Alaina she’s on five medications, and we hope we can get her off of some of those medications. If cannabis oil works for her, she might wake up and be a completely different child.”
Lawmakers also approved a bill that requires insurers to provide autism treatment coverage for children 6 and under. The bill only applies to small businesses and individual policies that are not federally regulated. It caps the coverage at $30,000 a year. Marietta resident Danni Benni says it will help her family. Her son, Preston, has autism and the family has been paying for treatment out of pocket.
“Elated, overwhelmed, relieved. We’re relieved this is finally happening,” she said.
The legislature also approved a $23 million increase in state funds for primary care doctors who treat Medicaid patients. Lawmakers rejected a plan by Gov. Nathan Deal to stop providing state health insurance for school employees who work less than 30 hours a week.
9(MDAxODM0MDY4MDEyMTY4NDA3MzI3YjkzMw004))
Top Stories
