[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6360759,"mediaKeyId","2173605-ff217208eb5c42c73cbd2574f3a7dff7","parentId",2173605,"title","Medical Association outlines Safe Haven practitioner wellness program, aims to launch statewide in 2025","audioSeconds",485,"startMs",6223000,"endMs",6708000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2173605-ff217208eb5c42c73cbd2574f3a7dff7&start=6223&end=6708","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2173605-ff217208eb5c42c73cbd2574f3a7dff7/thumbnail_6223000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6360759/Georgia/Medical-Association-outlines-Safe-Haven-practitioner-wellness-program-aims-to-launch-statewide-in-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6360759-e31688b71049e4aa05f6c373e39fc9d3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162181&Signature=ANlAvL0SCyCCZvpx8Mdf2jeliYEdkwayuH73VBo8xCM7mo8g406i6AkuKAOHgmpBRvUaqnu~5ylcVeWXo5JcqmLyoQgGNZ7BS6B4ndW2ogb9qV3ASV0W7la8J~~jqMyt9Z7gEA~eNMnGx~AQtzVJHWhLFy6IkF2sTqkTm3ubVkb7s2ZDFvEPeKvFJRUkaMaITKDe0rgGL8yuDV~VUY3oHw7HhS1wrpRYuC2oICwBe8Pw49pe1JMXE4yyjR-A1rP4TBeTQdKHDIaeArhQiKtXkyf~8bQ3bt9LASNvpeZQqDGwR2Uvbb3hHaNNRFZ9CviTbhNNGw~TnJsdEhZNL5azXQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Georgia State Legislature ","date","2025-01-28T00:00:00Z","article","Representatives of the Medical Association of Georgia briefed the House Public and Community Health Committee on the Safe Haven practitioner wellness program, which aims to provide confidential, nonpunitive support for clinicians experiencing stress and burnout.

Brent Walker, general counsel for the Medical Association of Georgia, told members the program — modeled after Virginia’s initiative and developed with national societies — is intended to increase engagement with mental-health and resilience resources by emphasizing confidentiality, peer support and a nondisciplinary design. \"The design of the program, if you engage with it appropriately, it protects you from any negative consequences to your license,\" Walker said.

Walker described program components including stress-management training, mental-health support, work-life balance initiatives and physical health resources. He said engagement rates in Virginia’s program were 43–45 percent compared with single-digit engagement for typical employee-assistance programs. The association estimates a sustainable per-practitioner cost “around $300 a year” and expects to begin rolling out options this year, either as an employer-provided benefit or an individually accessible program for independent practitioners.

Committee members and guests discussed workforce shortages and retention; Walker cited projections that Georgia could face a shortage of roughly 8,000 physicians by 2030 and noted the program is intended to reduce attrition, save recruitment costs and protect patient safety.

The association said it is coordinating with state licensing boards and the Professional Health Program (PHP) so practitioners who need further oversight can be transitioned into formal impairment programs when appropriate. Walker said the nonprofit model and confidentiality focus are intended to reduce stigma and increase participation among physicians and allied practitioners.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","1.28.25 Public & Community Health","oneSentenceSummary","The Medical Association of Georgia explained a new Safe Haven wellness program for clinicians that emphasizes confidentiality, peer support and nondisciplinary assistance. The association plans a rollout this year, estimating a per-practitioner cost around $300 annually and citing workforce retention as a key driver.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature Georgia , Georgia","taxId",77688,"location","Georgia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6360765,"Committee approves substitute to House Bill 89 to clarify maternal death autopsy process and MMRC access to records",825,5352000,6177000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2173605-ff217208eb5c42c73cbd2574f3a7dff7&start=5352&end=6177","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2173605-ff217208eb5c42c73cbd2574f3a7dff7/thumbnail_5352000.jpg","/articles/6360765/Georgia/Committee-approves-substitute-to-House-Bill-89-to-clarify-maternal-death-autopsy-process-and-MMRC-access-to-records","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6360765-bba80376d8eda164c5e2ced4ff61b1fb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162181&Signature=W84KhB9wHC3NdMCPbUlCdGDiv1dLSxkO32OSRZE8c682BwVGDvQqifsSDrWxXJNxFgatAZI~xKbTYsAuW8FN24mdMTImmmBF173jmASa5AXZXVYLC0O4vuX71vsAtlW6P9ECABy0LPb7XfeUSFvRvXnhtB6HfAXTAm6WJr6LjSvb9BA09618RdHajIbhh3LSGO5oZKWicUzGwARi50NqglIQZyVXplnZYZ5dcXqlk-C2qjnMpCTtPS8B-zJ8Y6QOV8qGtQA2vZvAW8L8q4vT2p7dp8zIM-oFUg~JHQbbETNX3zRtTjf81n3pb45IbUjrnKXzOnprpDGl~cmwPLH7JA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Public and Community Health Committee approved a substitute to House Bill 89, the Department of Public Health’s agency bill aimed at improving maternal health processes and strengthening maternal mortality review capacity.

Megan Andrews, assistant commissioner for policy at the Georgia Department of Public Health, summarized the agency bill and its three main provisions: clarification of autopsy routing for maternal deaths, amendment of confidentiality provisions to allow the maternal mortality review committee (MMRC) access to mental-health records for review purposes, and the creation of a statutory advisory committee to review the regional perinatal center system every four years and recommend changes.

Andrews said regional perinatal centers had declined to conduct autopsies, citing liability concerns, and the substitute removes the statutory requirement that maternal autopsies be referred to those specialized centers. \"We have been attempting to implement that legislation since 2022 and the regional perinatal centers do not want to do autopsies citing liability concerns,\" Andrews told the committee.

On mental-health records, Andrews told members the department seeks limited access so the MMRC can make informed recommendations: \"mental health conditions continues to rise as a leading cause of death\" and access to relevant records would help the committee’s review, she said. The bill retains strong confidentiality protections for MMRC data, the presenter said.

The bill also establishes a structured review of the six regional perinatal centers and a process for making budget requests if an additional center is needed. Andrews compared the proposed structure to the statutory newborn screening advisory committee the Legislature created in 2021.

A motion to pass the substitute was made, seconded and approved by voice vote; no roll-call tally appears in the committee record. Committee members asked clarifying questions about the new statutory language, confidentiality caveats requested by hospital stakeholders and transport/EMT considerations for maternal transfers; Andrews said operational details about transport and medications would be part of the committee’s four-year review and left to subject-matter experts.

The committee approved passage of the substitute to House Bill 89 by voice vote.","The committee passed a substitute to House Bill 89 after a departmental presentation; the bill removes the requirement that maternal autopsies go to regional perinatal centers, allows maternal mortality review committee access to certain mental-health records for review, and establishes a statutory review committee for regional perinatal centers.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6360769,"State officials present 2024 dementia report, highlight Georgia Memory Net and caregiver burdens",1132,3115000,4247000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2173605-ff217208eb5c42c73cbd2574f3a7dff7&start=3115&end=4247","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2173605-ff217208eb5c42c73cbd2574f3a7dff7/thumbnail_3115000.jpg","/articles/6360769/Georgia/State-officials-present-2024-dementia-report-highlight-Georgia-Memory-Net-and-caregiver-burdens","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6360769-3f1c77f52256c868f35daca0005dc54a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162181&Signature=ZRSHFRXe4bOE9u1YUTpqXQSDUnOrCaCrDHfeG6lCyGAAApCWaZm5608OOeHdxKNxXcxiz-GGiTURAtZO6fZkjcbMZE~EOPXWKOnij6ySC4WVpDwKgxIb7eQs2YyLWd1Mxi6evQzPHf5CbebmvBU1NmsMCaqUN5zczcRMeJ2gWbXU2144i2fcNZ6T7X8ICAhBIGJ9jNegFNnvASmdYwBhhFx~zrXFSiL3JVQyXtYl-Vszse12QEKJqzXTjEXJVnmB9uGBFntWN~fKEo2lF-PqN7HES3D~9OIm0fma29QLGNJ-8f2WmM34vJ0AQmcvJszurEq-Fbc9vdCF4GNxyQDw2A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","State officials presented a new 2024 dementia report to the House Public and Community Health Committee, summarizing prevalence, costs, workforce gaps and state programs aimed at earlier diagnosis and caregiver support.

Mary Lee Boatwright Quinn, assistant deputy commissioner at the Georgia Department of Human Services Division of Aging Services, and Nancy Petrie, director of government affairs for the Alzheimer's Association and chair of the GARD advisory council, delivered the report and fielded questions from committee members. \"Forty percent of cases are associated with modifiable risk factors,\" Petrie said, highlighting obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, insufficient sleep and lack of exercise as intervention points.

The report — prepared in partnership with the University of Georgia's Carl Vinson Institute — estimates about 188,000 Georgians age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's; roughly 74,000 Medicare beneficiaries have a formal diagnosis. The presenters said mortality from Alzheimer’s is the seventh leading cause of death nationally and emphasized that prevalence and comorbid conditions are higher in parts of southern Georgia and in some rural counties.

Officials described the Georgia Memory Net (GMN) diagnostic protocol, a statewide effort that uses clinic and telehealth sites to expand access to specialist evaluation. Mary Lee Boatwright Quinn said the state has invested in a dementia team at the Division of Aging Services and the new dementia care specialist program, with dementia care specialists placed in each area agency on aging. The presenters said those investments aim to increase early and accurate diagnosis and to strengthen caregiver support across the state.

Committee members asked about research, workforce pipelines, and access in South Georgia. Nancy Petrie said the Association and the state are expanding pilot programs and grant-funded initiatives targeted to Southwest Georgia and other underserved areas. The presenters also noted workforce shortages for neurologists and geriatric specialists outside metro Atlanta and pointed to GMN telehealth sites as one mitigation strategy.

On caregiver burden, the presenters cited an Alzheimer's Association estimate of about 375,000 unpaid caregivers in Georgia providing roughly 755,000,000 hours of unpaid care annually; in 2020 Medicaid costs for Georgians with Alzheimer's were cited at about $1.265 billion, which presenters estimated had increased since 2020.

The presenters encouraged members to review the full report and an executive summary placed in members' folders; they said the report will be updated every four years and that progress updates to the GARD state plan will be provided in between.

\"We are already doing some things to intervene here in our state,\" Boatwright Quinn said, noting Older Americans Act–funded programs and targeted efforts through area agencies on aging.","The Division of Aging Services and the GARD advisory council presented Georgia's first 2024 dementia report, showing roughly 188,000 Georgians over 65 with Alzheimer's, high caregiver burden and geographic disparities; officials noted investments in Georgia Memory Net, dementia care specialists and telehealth diagnostic sites.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6360772,"House Public and Community Health Committee adopts biennial rules, keeps quorum at eight",246,2340000,2586000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2173605-ff217208eb5c42c73cbd2574f3a7dff7&start=2340&end=2586","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2173605-ff217208eb5c42c73cbd2574f3a7dff7/thumbnail_2340000.jpg","/articles/6360772/Georgia/House-Public-and-Community-Health-Committee-adopts-biennial-rules-keeps-quorum-at-eight","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6360772-3a525559ae523dc3522ebbc0700a5228/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162181&Signature=NWUwUlD-eVW8qC9wccqBUUFJIx8AmmFUh1-Z5r1LqrraZ9xfEP4m4eeaxK9frx4HhHMlWrApeUv2mDZPHYnWCFSyAapwxldaA1EJTkV0qpilnDTrVtCGdscVITqaU5taXGjaGd-jYBcRCe2O7N9EfkMRFbSVF4P7dTgJAkmz~eYXw~l02cXgjFmWpnFyzV~EHCPnSXmbKbONymK0tUDEPGE6Ur1JNvs53bmTRziLTrkUqUa9ZP22vFE9H0Ye0IaWgt9QRkTDmKTEF2MIdPJPb2F1LHtaSLlvpXQal3G6F~qhFR-h3LBeG1WrxJ8z~mVbwc-chzlYI5wIqQqgElmozw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Public and Community Health Committee approved its 2025–26 committee rules by voice vote after a brief discussion about quorum size.

Chair Cooper, chair of the House Public and Community Health Committee, opened the meeting saying the committee must “pass the rules of the committee” as it does every two years and asked members to consult the packet copies provided. Representative Reese moved to adopt the rules “with the condition that the chair will consider increasing quorum if membership shows accordingly.” The motion was seconded and adopted by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded.

The chair said scheduling conflicts across many committees had reduced attendance at some meetings and explained the committee would start the session with a quorum of eight members rather than a higher threshold. “I would rather have it at 11 but let's start out with 8,” the chair said, adding she will revisit the quorum if members stop meeting “on top of each other.” Representative Reese corrected an initial head count to 24 members during the discussion.

The committee took no further formal action on the rules beyond adoption. Questions during the discussion were limited to procedural clarifications and copies of the rule packet for members who had not yet received them.

The rules will govern committee procedure for the current two-year legislative cycle. The chair noted she will consider raising the quorum if attendance improves and scheduling conflicts are reduced.","The House Public and Community Health Committee adopted its 2025–26 rules by voice vote and retained an initial quorum of eight members, with the chair saying she may raise the quorum later if scheduling conflicts ease.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Medical Association outlines Safe Haven practitioner wellness program, aims to launch statewide in 2025

Committee approves substitute to House Bill 89 to clarify maternal death autopsy process and MMRC access to records

State officials present 2024 dementia report, highlight Georgia Memory Net and caregiver burdens

House Public and Community Health Committee adopts biennial rules, keeps quorum at eight