HB 509
To
amend Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
professions and businesses, so as to change provisions relating to the
regulation of physicians, acupuncture, physician's assistants, cancer and
glaucoma treatment, respiratory care, clinical perfusionists, and orthotics and
prosthetics practice; to provide for comprehensive revision to the regulation of
such professions; to provide for definitions; to establish the Georgia Composite
Medical Board to regulate physicians, acupuncturists, physician assistants,
cancer and glaucoma treatment, respiratory care practice, clinical
perfusionists, orthotics and prosthetics, and cosmetic laser services; to
provide for the process of selection and removal to and from the board; to
provide for the powers and duties of the board; to provide for the requirement
of an oath of office for board members; to provide for the election of officers
of the board; to provide for allowances for the board members; to provide for a
chairperson of the board; to provide for powers and duties of the chairperson;
to provide for peer review of certain medical professionals; to require
individuals regulated under Chapter 34 of said title to notify the board upon
the conviction of a felony; to provide for the suspension and reinstatement
under certain circumstances of a license, permit, or certificate granted under
Chapter 34; to provide for the renewal of a license, permit, or certificate
granted under Chapter 34; to provide for a short title; to provide that a
license is required to practice medicine; to provide for certain standards,
conditions, and requirements to practice medicine; to provide for the delegation
of certain duties from physicians to nurses or physician assistants; to provide
penalties for practicing medicine without a license; to provide for the
delegation of tasks involving polysomnography; to require a license to practice
acupuncture; to provide certain standards, conditions, and requirements to
practice acupuncture; to provide for a penalty for practicing acupuncture
without a license; to require a license to act as a physician assistant; to
provide certain standards, conditions, and requirements prior to licensure as a
physician assistant; to provide for certain responsibilities for physician
assistants; to provide for the review of physician assistants; to require
certification to practice respiratory care; to provide certain standards,
conditions, and requirements prior to certification as a respiratory therapist;
to provide a penalty for practicing respiratory care without certification; to
require a license to act as a clinical perfusionist; to provide for a temporary
license to act as a clinical perfusionist; to provide for certain standards,
conditions, and requirements prior to licensure as a clinical perfusionist; to
provide a penalty for acting as a clinical perfusionist without a license; to
require a license to practice orthotics and prosthetics; to provide for certain
standards, conditions, and requirements prior to licensure to practice orthotics
and prosthetics; to provide for a penalty for practicing orthotics and
prosthetics without a license; to revise laws relating to cosmetic laser
services; to amend various other titles of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated for purposes of conformity; to provide that a physician assistant can
make a pronouncement of death under certain circumstances for purposes of vital
records; to provide for related matters; to provide for a contingency and
effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes....