Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal has signed SB 41 into law, which now means that any business wishing to provide DME in the Peach State must first have a physical location and obtain a state license to do so.
The passage of SB 41 comes after a multi-year push by the Georgia Association of Medical Equipment Suppliers (GAMES) and its allies in the state legislature. GAMES extended its thanks to Deal, as well as Ga. Sen. Renee Unterman, and Ga. Rep. Jesse Petrea for guiding and supporting the association as the bill moved through Georgia’s General Assembly.
After July 1, 2017 the Georgia Board of Pharmacy will have the authority to administer the licensing statute for DME providers. GAMES stated that the new law is both “pro-business” and “pro-patient: and represents a “huge step forward” for the state’s HME industry.
“We are pleased with the outcome of this lengthy and complex process,” GAMES President Tyler Riddle said. “GAMES wishes to thank our partner, Southern Strategy Group, for walking alongside us in this process, ensuring all the i’s were dotted and the t’s were crossed!”
A statement from GAMES said the association’s leadership is looking forward to working with the Georgia Board of Pharmacy as they begin the rule-making process to put SB 41 into operation.