ATLANTA- The Georgia House of Representatives today passed House Bill 866 by a vote of 147-4. Sponsored by State Representative Stephen Allison (R-Blairsville), HB 866 allows the State Medical Education Board to match grants to rural communities for the purpose of encouraging physicians to work in underserved areas.
“Many Georgia communities face a severe shortage of doctors,” said Representative Allison. “HB 866 is a small step that we can take to help bring physicians to rural Georgia.”
HB 866 allows organizations approved by the State Medical Education Board to match certain healthcare related grants. The bill also prioritizes certain grants for the purposes of bringing doctors to underserved areas. Acceptable expenditures of grant funds shall include but are not limited to medical education, loan repayment, salary supplements, and additional support staff for a physician’s office. Grants will be offered on a yearly basis and renewed each year at the discretion of the board.
HB 866 will now move to the Senate for consideration. A link to the bill can be found by clicking here.
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Representative Stephen Allison represents the citizens of District 8, which includes portions of Rabun, Towns, Union, and White Counties. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2008, and currently serves on the Judiciary, Higher Education, Children & Youth, Transportation and Banks & Banking Committees.