O.C.G.A. § 31-34-20 (2019)
Grant program for physicians serving underserved rural areas; eligibility qualifications; time of practice; rules and regulations
(a) Subject to appropriations, the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce shall establish a grant program for the purpose of increasing the number of physicians who remain in Georgia to practice in medically underserved rural areas of the state. The grant program shall provide medical malpractice insurance premium assistance for physicians practicing in such medically underserved rural areas of the state, as identified by the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce pursuant to Code Section 49-10-3. (b) To be eligible to receive a grant under the grant program, a physician shall meet the following qualifications:
(1) Maintain a practice in a medically underserved rural area of the state;
(2) Be licensed to practice in this state and board certified;
(3) Complete a minimum of 100 hours of continuing medical education as approved by the Georgia Composite Medical Board;
(4) Provide weekend or extended hours; and
(5) Accept Medicaid and medicare patients.
(c) A physician receiving a grant pursuant to the grant program shall agree to practice medicine in such medically underserved rural areas of the state for a period of time determined by the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce.
(d) The Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce may adopt and prescribe such rules and regulations as it deems necessary or appropriate to administer and carry out the grant program provided for in this chapter. In establishing the amount of grants, the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce shall determine the average insurance premium rates for physicians in rural areas of this state.
History
Code 1981, § 31-34-20, enacted by Ga. L. 2018, p. 132, § 6/HB 769; Ga. L. 2019, p. 224, § 2/SB 207. The 2019 amendment, effective July
1, 2019, substituted ‘‘Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce’’ for ‘‘Georgia Board for Physician Workforce’’ throughout the Code section.
CHAPTER 35 VACCINATIONS FOR FIREFIGHTERS, EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS, AND PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS Article 1 General Provisions Sec.
Legislative findings. Definitions. Voluntary vaccinations for hepatitis B; screening for hepatitis C.
Sec.
Annotations
The 2019 amendment, effective July 1, 2019, substituted "Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce" for "Georgia Board for Physician Workforce" throughout the Code section.
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CHAPTER 35 VACCINATIONS FOR FIREFIGHTERS, EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS, AND PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS
Article 1
General Provisions.
31-35-1. Legislative findings.
31-35-2. Definitions.
31-35-3. Voluntary vaccinations for hepatitis B; screening for hepatitis C.
Article 2
Bioterrorism Protection for Emergency Responders.
31-35-10. Definitions.
31-35-11. Vaccinations for emergency responders; exemption provided by physician; priority; administration and implementation; funding.
Code Commission notes. - This chapter, which was enacted as Chapter 34 of Title 31, was renumbered as Chapter 35 pursuant to Code Section 28-9-5 in light of the previous enactment of a Chapter 34 by Ga. L. 1989, p. 1234.
JUDICIAL DECISIONS
Sovereign immunity. - Sovereign immunity of a county was not waived by O.C.G.A. Ch. 35, T. 31 since the law does not create a general duty for counties to vaccinate officers. The chapter only requires vaccination at the request of an employee. Diaz v. Gwinnett County, 225 Ga. App. 807, 485 S.E.2d 42 (1997).
Official immunity of county employees was not waived since there was no evidence that the employees acted maliciously, willfully, or corruptly in connection with the failure of a police officer to be vaccinated against hepatitis B. Diaz v. Gwinnett County, 225 Ga. App. 807, 485 S.E.2d 42 (1997).
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ARTICLE 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
Code Commission notes. - Pursuant to Code Section 28-9-5, in 2003, Code Sections 31-35-1 through 31-35-3 were designated as Article 1 of Chapter 35 of Title 31.