To help our members keep up with an ever-changing regulatory environment, GHA monitors a number of state agencies and licensing boards, including:

• Georgia Board of Community Health, which governs the Georgia Department of Community Health, the lead agency for Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids, the State Health Benefit Plan, Healthcare Facility Regulation Division, and State Office of Rural Health. GHA also participates in DCH’s administrative simplification initiative, which includes Continuous Process Improvement (CPI) workgroups that focus on provider enrollment, patient access, prior authorization, and claims.
• Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce (GBHCWF), which works to improve access to needed physicians and other health care practitioners in Georgia.
• Georgia Board of Nursing (GBON), which licenses and regulates registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and issues authorizations to practice to advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs).
• Georgia Board of Pharmacy (GBOP), which licenses and regulates pharmacies and pharmacists.
• Georgia Board of Public Health, which governs the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) that serves as the lead agency for preventing disease, injury, and disability; promoting health and well-being; and preparing for and responding to disasters from a health perspective.
• Georgia Composite Medical Board (GCMB), which licenses and regulates physicians, physician assistants, respiratory care professionals, perfusionists, acupuncturists, orthotists, prosthetists, auricular detoxification specialists, genetic counselors, cosmetic laser practitioners, and pain management clinics. The GCMB also reviews nurse protocol agreements between delegating physicians and APRNs.
• Georgia Board of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, which oversees the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities that offers treatment and support services to help people with behavioral health challenges achieve recovery.
• Georgia Office of Emergency Medical Services (EMS), which licenses and regulates EMS agencies, EMS personnel, and EMS instructors.
• Georgia Office of the Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner, which licenses and regulates insurance companies, among other things.
• Georgia Trauma Commission, which helps manage and administer Georgia’s trauma center network, coordinates trauma facilities, and participates in the accountability mechanism for the Georgia trauma system.