[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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],{"_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",6322568,"mediaKeyId","2347257-6f094e9422d87784365785eaa896069b","parentId",2347257,"title","Committee endorses bill to expand clinical training sites and loan program to final-year residents and fellows","audioSeconds",911,"startMs",1797860,"endMs",2709795,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2347257-6f094e9422d87784365785eaa896069b&start=1797&end=2709","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2347257-6f094e9422d87784365785eaa896069b/thumbnail_1797860.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6322568/Georgia/Committee-endorses-bill-to-expand-clinical-training-sites-and-loan-program-to-final-year-residents-and-fellows","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6322568-204a7af046132937c36e0f70cd52e23e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770677084&Signature=H219ZRzrIw2mT9NyCxEUcqSrz-4ldHuCK32fSAcw-w0e3gzkL3hmcjQ2pLwHzkfoiInzfjatWqtIpL~0p96qZF9Uq-OXJ6Mw3-GVkoRMWBdL2wLCrMEE1FQ3IGX5ULcoWsCbNjZ8LCxU0n9Utvrd9fNl3qUPLe8BPoUEEqu9VcqVYq2A5yU2H4Yz0v8gvtV9RjDmzXTRniQ23SZSErJEsDIgJiDQvJVGkX0zsli-O7dmFT3svIVN227lxm9PaQYmjSQCesvul7aZm4w-0hRU5W4ULmVjO-bDAdZrGmqHOUzcFhSEg3ERxwoo2Jpnh65-G6n~7udNzaaeS1~fUe1nng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Georgia State Legislature","date","2025-02-19T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Health and Human Services Committee voted to give Senate Bill 130 a favorable recommendation to expand the state’s medical education support and the Health Care Workforce Board’s service-cancelable loan program, the committee heard.

The bill amends provisions in Title 31 to change the term “designated teaching hospital” to “designated institution,” allowing entities that contract with the state and that have a Medicare/Medicaid CMS number — including federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and standalone clinics that host accredited programs — to qualify for up to $10,000 per year in Department of Community Health support for each resident participating in Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)–approved programs. Section 2 adds final-year resident and final-year fellowship positions to the pool of providers eligible for the Board’s service-cancelable loan program; section 3, as read into the record, requires eligible participants to be born in the United States and enrolled in an ACGME program.

Sponsor testimony framed the changes as workforce development measures aimed at increasing the number of health care providers practicing in underserved areas by broadening the sites and people eligible for existing support. The sponsor described the loan program as a typical model in which student debt is repaid over a multi-year service commitment: “typically, it's a 5 year deal, and 1 fifth of the debt is repaid on an annual basis, as long as you serve,” the sponsor said.

Committee members pressed for implementation details. Senator Mangum asked why the statutory language uses “up to $10,000” per resident and noted that actual payments have historically been lower; the sponsor replied that the statutory cap is $10,000 but that institutions typically receive about $2,000–$3,000 and that the payment is made to the institution, not directly to the resident. Senator Setsler asked whether service could count during residency; the sponsor said the intention is to allow service during the final year of residency or fellowship so that the loan service period can begin while the clinician is completing training in an underserved area.

The sponsor noted that no additional appropriation is specified in the bill; if appropriated dollars do not cover broadened participation, available funds would be reduced pro rata and additional institutions would not receive payments until further funding is available.

After discussion, Dr. Kirkpatrick moved the committee recommendation and Senator Halpern seconded; the committee voice vote passed unanimously. The transcript does not show a roll-call tally.

Supporters said the measure aims to introduce trainees to underserved communities where they might remain in practice. Chet Vassine, executive director of the Georgia Board of Healthcare Workforce, was mentioned as an expert who has testified on similar topics but was not present for this hearing. The bill will advance under Senate procedure for further consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","02/19/2025 Senate Committee on Health & Human Services","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Health and Human Services Committee voted to give Senate Bill 130 a favorable recommendation to expand qualifying institutions for state medical-education support and to let final-year residents and fellows participate in the state’s service-cancelable loan program.","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},6322573,"Committee backs bill letting optometrists dispense prescribed eye medicines",686,1070610,1757555,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2347257-6f094e9422d87784365785eaa896069b&start=1070&end=1757","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2347257-6f094e9422d87784365785eaa896069b/thumbnail_1070610.jpg","/articles/6322573/Georgia/Committee-backs-bill-letting-optometrists-dispense-prescribed-eye-medicines","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6322573-101be8c4d8d5d98030519b8c20b4aeee/orig.mp4?Expires=1770677084&Signature=WTm9r1aKhCgEOSfI0KSylK9RrqtNnEv0svtOg-bBv6XW2C7ZI2iIE5AWvB7wAu3gSWOh3IWwzzShyYxj1a0CKUkU6Ull3j6o9-49BRfmNnGs2TKgj8IIQXxsfJshI~urU3S6RM6zJmMyynocen03Mj7Ae16dPfI4sdMJw2OGRXaGZH01~uppM1pMwjBjwrsrtYqpX9ftdvwlonbLWVj3YMzGFpw5cbaqDsJOhW0I5tgOPNuCYEN2nMekYC7HipXQPasywDwxWZDtB0ME3Ys6xalh-vqesR0ka3WtylWcjK5-gZqw57T5CK0uUE5hGVRDhOCDJ38S0yNXH07fSxqORw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Health and Human Services Committee voted to give Senate Bill 140 a favorable recommendation, allowing doctors of optometry to stock and dispense pharmaceutical agents they prescribe for diseases and conditions of the eye and adnexa oculi, committee testimony showed.

The bill’s sponsor told the committee the change is narrow: it does not expand what optometrists may prescribe but would permit them to sell or dispense the specific medicines they already prescribe. Supporters said the change would improve patient access in rural areas and allow timely treatment in urgent cases. The proposal requires the prescribing doctor to be on site when dispensing, to provide patients with information about proper use, and to maintain a readily retrievable record system of dispensed medicines.

John Whitlow, a 32-year optometric practitioner from LaGrange representing the Georgia Optometric Association, told the committee that the change would improve care and patient compliance. “There are times it's 10:00 at night, 12 o'clock at night. You get a phone call. Patient has a foreign body… You go into the office. You're able to treat that foreign body, but you want treatment to start immediately with the antibiotic,” Whitlow said. He said some drugs are difficult to obtain locally and described one example: “It's called 1 percent cyclogel… I can't find 1% cyclo gel. I don't care if it's 12:00 noon. Pharmacies just don't carry it anymore.” Whitlow added that having the medication on hand could reduce the need to prescribe oral narcotics for pain.

A representative speaking for the optometry community clarified limits on the proposal. “It doesn't apply to controlled substances. It does not allow us to dispense or sell controlled substances. It does not expand our scope of practice,” the Auburn Alliance general counsel said during testimony.

Committee members asked about insurance and contractual issues for dispensing in-office. Dr. Kirkpatrick noted that insurance coverage and contract terms can complicate in-office dispensing; Whitlow said the bill focuses on the delivery option and convenience for patients and that the specifics of insurance reimbursement were not addressed in the testimony.

After testimony and brief discussion, a motion to give the bill a favorable recommendation was made and seconded; the committee voice vote passed unanimously. The transcript does not record a roll-call tally or named yea/nay votes.

The bill’s supporters emphasized patient access, especially in rural areas, and the potential for new drug-delivery technologies — including drug-eluting contact lenses and medicated punctal plugs — to be stocked and administered by the prescribing optometrist. Opponents or neutral parties did not request that the committee amend the bill during this hearing.

Next steps: With the committee’s favorable recommendation, the bill will proceed according to Senate rules for further consideration.","The Senate Health and Human Services Committee gave Senate Bill 140 a favorable recommendation to allow doctors of optometry to stock and dispense prescription medications for diseases of the eye, with safeguards and an explicit exclusion for controlled substances.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee endorses bill to expand clinical training sites and loan program to final-year residents and fellows

Committee backs bill letting optometrists dispense prescribed eye medicines