2021 Georgia Code
Title 33 - Insurance
Chapter 20B - Essential Rural Health Care Provider Access
- § 33-20B-1. Short Title
- § 33-20B-2. Definitions
- § 33-20B-3. Qualifications for Participating Providers; Reasonable Consideration
- § 33-20B-3.1. Health Maintenance Organizations' Expansion Into Rural Areas
- § 33-20B-4. Termination as a Participating Provider
- § 33-20B-5. Hearing and Appeal Rights of Denied Providers
- § 33-20B-6. Administration
- Ga. L. 1998, p. 900, ยง 1, not codified by the General Assembly, provides that: "It is the intent of the General Assembly to encourage the continued existence and availability of certain health care providers in rural areas of the state so as to promote and preserve the provision of primary care to the residents of such rural areas. The General Assembly finds that a severe shortage of health care providers currently exists in many rural areas, and those providers which do exist continue to do so under financial hardship. The General Assembly further finds that rural health care providers are being arbitrarily excluded from participating in certain health benefit plans and that, should such practice continue, these providers will be harmed and forced either to discontinue their services or relocate to urban areas thereby further exacerbating the shortage which already exists. The General Assembly therefore concludes that certain steps must be taken to promote the continued existence and expansion of rural health care providers in order to preserve the availability of primary health care services to Georgia's rural citizens."
