Georgia's House of Representatives failed to pass a bill that would have significantly reformed the state's certificate of need laws, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports.
What you should know:
1. The bill failed by a 72 to 94 vote and will not be considered again this year.
2. However, all hope is not lost for CON reformation. Bill sponsor Rep. Matt Hatchett, R-Dublin, is looking to amend a bill that's already passed in the house to insert CON language into.
3. After the bill was voted down, House members agreed "it could come back later for another try."
4. House Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, told AJC, "Chairman Hatchett is trying to find the parts around which he can build a consensus to move us forward and I’m optimistic that he will.I think that it opens up some competition in health care. I think it’s good for rural Georgia, for access to health care in rural Georgia; it creates some opportunities that we haven’t had before."