Rep. Butch Parrish Named Chair of House Study Committee on Certificate of Need Modernization

ATLANTA – State Representative Butch Parrish (R-Swainsboro), chairman of the Special Committee on Healthcare, was named by Speaker Jon Burns (R-Newington) to serve as the chairman of the House Study Committee on Certificate of Need Modernization.

            “I am honored that Speaker Burns has entrusted me with examining these health care regulatory laws,” said Rep. Parrish. “Georgia’s CON laws have been in place for decades, but our health care system and its landscape has changed significantly since these laws were first enacted. Any changes to these laws should be carefully considered, and I am looking forward to dedicating the remainder of this year toward discussing real solutions that could impact real lives in our state.”

Created by House Resolution 603, the House Study Committee on Certificate of Need Modernization will examine Georgia’s health care regulations to determine how to best ensure access to high-quality, affordable health care throughout Georgia.

Speaker Burns also appointed the following legislative members to this study committee: House Minority Leader James Beverly (D-Macon), State Representatives Sharon Cooper (R-Marietta), Mike Cameron (R-Rossville), Leesa Hagan (R-Lyons), Lee Hawkins (R-Gainesville) and Mark Newton (R-Augusta).

The following non-legislative members were appointed by Speaker Burns: Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, president and CEO, Morehouse School of Medicine; Scott Raynes, president & CEO, Southeast Georgia Health System; Sheryl Bluestein, vice president of operations, Emory Healthcare; and Debbie Meade, CEO, Health Management.

The study committee’s meeting information will be archived online here.

Representative Butch Parrish represents the citizens of District 158, which includes Candler, Emanuel and Treutlen counties and portions of Bulloch County. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1984 and currently serves as Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health. He also serves on the Banks & Banking, Economic Development & Tourism, Health, Human Relations & Aging, Public Health, Rules and Technology and Infrastructure Innovation committees.

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