Summer 2024 Updates

FIREWORKS

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HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

I hope you had a great Fourth of July! We have a new pink plastic kayak called "Barbie," and it has been launched on Fightingtown Creek.

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ONWARD WE GO

Thank you all again for your help and support for my House District 84 Democratic Primary campaign! I'm very glad to have the highest victory margin of anyone on the ballot on May 21st and I credit many volunteers and friends for the success. I have no Republican opponent in November, so I can now turn my attention to the legislative work planned for this summer. Please let me know of any other issues, tasks, or questions that you might have.

The situation on the national scene is deeply troubling, and we don't know what is going to happen. In 2016, I was appointed as one of the four Georgia Representatives to the DNC Rules Committee at the Democrat National Convention in Philadelphia. There is a small chance that I'll be on the 2024 Rules Committee in August in Chicago. And though we don't know what is going to happen, we are certainly all agreed that Donald Trump should not be President again. Last week I appeared as a guest on WABE's Politically Georgia. I was asked my opinion on President Biden's continuing role as the party's nominee. The podcast is available here if you would like to listen, and here's a link to the AJC article that followed the radio program. Stay tuned.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COMMISSION WORKFORCE SUBCOMMITTEE

I will continue to Chair the Workforce and Innovation Subcommittee of the Behavioral Health Commission. Our first meeting for the summer is scheduled for July 30th beginning at 10 AM. This meeting and all other Commission Subcommittees will be livestreamed HERE. Prior to the June 10th full Commission meeting, I submitted a report to Commissioner Tanner on issues that needed to be addressed for the Subcommittee meeting. You may read this summary below. The June 10th full Committee meeting included an analysis of all the tasks that were called for by HB 1013 but have not been completed. Our work plan for the remainder of 2024 will focus on full implementation of the 1013 tasks.

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WORKFORCE AND SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT SUBCOMMITTEE 2024 INITIATIVES AND PRIORITIES

Parity‍

Every subcommittee has the obligation to focus on parity enforcement. The Workforce Subcommittee will be partnering with the Hospital and Short-Term Subcommittee to lend support where needed to address the parity and workforce overlap.  

Licensure of Mental Health Professionals ‍

There is a national trend to make licensure of professionals easier across state and international borders; examples—more modern technology, removing barriers that have no relation to quality assurance, and reviewing the requirements for internships. The specific recommendations of the WorkForce Subcommittee relating to the need for bilingual professionals have not been addressed, and the SOS modernization of the application and renewal process is not making sufficient progress.  

Among the ideas for the Workforce Subcommittee to research, consider, and report on:

- Research and review data collection procedures that have been implemented in 28 other states in collaboration with the Healthcare Regulatory Research Institute. Determine if there are best practices Georgia can implement.  

- Research and review national models or compacts enacted to create consistency and easier transfer of licenses. Establish where Georgia is in the national trend.Review proposals from the military offered models that Georgia has enacted. Examine what other ideas are offered by military leadership.

- Invite the SOS office to present to the subcommittee how the 2 million dollars appropriated to update licensure services will be spent. As well, share what are the deliverables and time table connected to the additional funds.

- A comprehensive analysis of what national models for licensure have passed and implemented successfully in tandem with a comprehensive review of legislation passed and introduced and not passed in Georgia.  

- Conduct an environmental scan to identify what other states are doing to make successful pathways for internationally licensed providers to practice in Georgia.

- Research and evaluate what is needed in the state to modernize licensing application process to transition to primarily digital platforms.

- Craft and implement strong network adequacy standards to maximize the participation of the behavioral health workforce in Georgia.

- Examine peer support resources and further evaluate and strengthen the adequacy of the peer support workforce across Georgia to build on the success that has been demonstrated. ‍

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Loan Forgiveness Progress for Mental Health Professionals

There have been several efforts towards loan forgiveness in the state including HB 1013 and SB 480. However, we don’t know the status of implementation and success rate. Therefore, this committee would like a comprehensive analysis of all Georgia behavioral health workforce loan forgiveness programs to determine – success of implementation, effectiveness, and identify remaining gaps and barriers.  ‍

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Data Collection and Sharing

Invite Georgia Data and Analytics Center (GCDAC) to come and present to the subcommittee for updates on the data-sharing program. Identify any additional needs or barriers there may be to meeting the data sharing deadline of October 2024 set by HB1013  

Additionally, I understand that there will be a homeless population workgroup this year. I am interested in the work of this group and would like to offer the below as topics to review.

1. HB 1013 required “analyzing best practices to address and ameliorate the increase in chronic homelessness among persons with behavioral health and substance abuse disorder” and this has not been done. Further, in a closely related issue, there were no appropriations for additional supportive housing slots in the FY 2025 budget. How does this gap relate to ongoing negotiations with the US Department of Justice Settlement Agreement obligations?

2. Previous recommendations involving familiar faces gave an excellent roadmap for the circulation of the homeless population through the street, to the ER, to the crisis beds, and the jails. A review of the implementation and impact of these recommendations to see what barriers still stand and what is possible under the status of funding.

Conclusion and Request  

The two most visible populations that do not receive adequate mental health services are the homeless and children. I urge the Commission and all Subcommittees to analyze this opinion and determine if I am right, and advise what might we do to change this reality. The bid process and adoption of new CMO contracts issued by DCH is often viewed as a solution, but its progress and timetable are unknown.

Thank you, and I look forward to working with all of you to continue our progress.

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HOMELESSNESS WORK GROUP

In addition to my work as Subcommittee Chair, I've also been appointed to the Homelessness Workgroup, a new task created by BHRIC Commissioner Tanner, that will be chaired by Jack Hardin. The Homelessness Workgroup has discussed our agenda and will be meeting on Friday, July 19th at 1:30pm. You may livestream this event HERE. I'm very happy for this appointment and I look forward to fulfilling our obligation to the homeless population with mental health needs, an obligation mandated by HB 1013. Chairman Jack Hardin has served well the City of Atlanta in significant volunteer positions regarding planning services for unhoused persons. He brings extensive expertise to our group. Commissioner Tanner has also appointed additional 2024 workgroups, which include the following: Dental Workgroup, IMD Waiver Workgroup, Medicaid Determinants of Health Workgroup, and Aging Adults Workgroup.

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CORPORATE LARGE SCALE INVESTMENTS OF SINGLE FAMILY HOMES

There is widespread recognition by political leaders that national and international investment firms are purchasing large numbers of single-family homes as a block. The estimates of these homes purchased in recent years in metropolitan Atlanta is over 30% of house sales, and Atlanta is one of the highest target areas for corporate purchase of homes in the nation. I'm joining other legislators and experts to discuss how the state might respond to this new issue that is substantially impacting the opportunity for Georgia families to purchase new homes. Turning home-owned properties into rental properties on a large scale. Please read more about this national issue in the June 4th AJC article by Matt Reynolds entitled Atlanta is a top city for investor-owned single-family rental homes.

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NEW SUBCOMMITTEE ON STATE PRISONS

Speaker Jon Burns has established a new House Special Subcommittee of Appropriations on State Prisons. On the committee is Rep. Scott Holcomb, my friend and colleague who has shown continued interest in public safety. "Given the substantial investment our state makes on our correctional system," said Holcomb, "it is crucial that we continuously assess how Georgians' tax dollars are being utilized and the results they yield. We are aware of the pressing challenges, particularly concerning issues such as violence within facilities and high turnover rates among staff, and I am eager to engage actively within this subcommittee to collaborate, identify and implement viable solutions that address these critical issues head-on." Rep. Matt Hatchett will serve as Chair. Read here for more information.

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GEORGIA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION MEETING

This week I appeared on a panel before the annual meeting of the Georgia Hospital Association along with other legislators--- including Rep. Stan Gunter and Rep. Matt Hatchett -- to discuss significant issues with Medicaid and other health care issues. I was invited to discuss the anticipated work of the Behavioral Health Commission that will be a part of the 2025 Session. There are a lot of discussions and speculation regarding different issues, and I will be reporting to you on our further progress during the remainder of 2024. Despite the fact that Governor Kemp is adamantly opposed to Medicaid expansion, there is still opportunity and important work to be done to improve access.

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HELP FOR GEORGIANS: OMBUDSMAN AND HERO PROGRAMS

Information comes across my desk regularly, and this week I received an annual report from the Department of Aging Ombudsman Program for patients of nursing homes. I also received the attached explanation of Georgia's HERO program that was initiated during the 1996 Olympics to help stranded motorists. Please let me know if either of these items are of interest to you and I can forward to you more information. I appreciate the fact that Georgia provides detailed reports and explanations for the services your taxes pay for.

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OUT AND ABOUT

I woke up this morning with the sun rising from the Atlantic to speak to the Georgia Hospital Association with my legislative friends about our plans to improve health care for Georgians. I ask them to question the Governor on how he might help.

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Campaign victory party! Thanks to all those who celebrated with me on election night. Special thanks to Skips' Hot Dogs for feeding all of us. And most of all, thanks to my interns and volunteers for all of their help!

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Summer fun! I've already enjoyed two fabulous vacation trips during the beginning of the summer. I've been to Scotland on a sailing and bicycle adventure, and happily survived a rigorous vacation up and down hills of the Hebrides. I also attended Chautauqua Institute program on Lake Chautauqua, on the "Evolution of the modern presidency"-- very timely, and the beautiful New England village that hosts guests every summer is delightful.

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Congratulations Madam CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson! We hung out together on the campaign trail, and I look forward to working with you!

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It was “Strike Out the Stigma” on May 29th at the Braves game! Commissioner Kevin Tanner threw out the first pitch, and I was happy to be there to cheer!

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QUICK LINKS FOR YOU

I am on the following legislative committees. You can watch live every time they meet. Click on the links below for livestreams, agendas, archives and more.

Committees:

• Appropriations
• Governmental Affairs
• Judiciary
• Juvenile Justice
• Public Health - Secretary
• Technology and Infrastructure Innovation
  

Subcommittees:

• Appropriations - Human Resources
• Governmental Affairs - State and Local Government
• Judicial - Leverett (two)
  

You can search for and track bills, watch the House (or Senate) in Session, watch committee hearings, monitor legislation by committee, and find contact information —- all on the revamped General Assembly website. Here are quick links:

• General Assembly website: https://www.legis.ga.gov/
• House Session meetings and many committee hearings are available to watch online: https://www.legis.ga.gov/house
• Archived videos of meetings and hearings: https://www.legis.ga.gov/house/media-services

Make your views known and tell me what issues interest you the most.