ATLANTA (May 9, 2013) – Senate Bill 170, which creates the offense of medical identity fraud was signed into Georgia law on Tuesday, May 7, by Governor Nathan Deal. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Judson Hill (R – Marietta), a longtime advocate for health care efficiency and fiscal responsibility. (more…)

ATLANTA (May 9, 2013) – House Bill 324 was signed into law on Tuesday, May 7, by Governor Nathan Deal at the Georgia State Capitol. Similar legislation sponsored by Sen. Judson Hill (R-Marietta) and this bill sponsored by Rep. Matt Dollar (R – Marietta) in the House and carried by Sen. Judson Hill (R – Marietta) in the Senate, will prohibit the Georgia Student Finance Commission board of commissioners and the Georgia Student Finance Authority board of directors from requiring the parents of Hope scholar recipients to annually submit income tax returns to qualify for this merit scholarship. Recently the Commission started requiring tax returns as a method to verify lawful presence within the U.S. as a stipulation to receiving college student aid. (more…)

ATLANTA (May 7, 2013) – Senate Bill 62 was signed into Georgia law by Governor Nathan Deal today at the Georgia State Capitol. Sponsored by Sen. Judson Hill (R – Marietta), this legislation creates the Federal and State Funded Health Care Financing Programs Overview Committee. The Committee is charged with periodically reviewing the actions of the Board of Community Health (BCH) and the Department of Community Health (DCH) to evaluate program success and functionality. (more…)

ATLANTA (March 26, 2013) – Sen. Judson Hill (R – Marietta) has released the following statement regarding HB 604. The legislation would suspend the ability to increase the millage rate—the percentage used to calculate property taxes—in Fulton County for two years. (more…)

ATLANTA (March 7, 2013) – Senate Bill 170, which creates the offense of medical identity fraud and defines associated terms, passed the Senate today by a vote of 52 to 1. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Judson Hill (R – Marietta).

“When people cheat the system by using another person’s identity, medical facilities have to raise costs to recover their lost profits,” said Sen. Hill. “Unfortunately, this ultimately leads to higher insurance premiums and medical costs for honest, hardworking Georgians. By passing this legislation, we’re sending a message to would-be identity thieves that this behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”

SB 170 states that a person commits medical identity fraud when he or she willfully and fraudulently uses identifying information of any real, fictitious or deceased person of any age to obtain medical care, prescription drugs, health care services, money or other financial gain. This legislation would coordinate medical identity fraud with identity fraud for jurisdiction and prosecution purposes.

Under SB 170, medical identity fraud is coordinated with financial identity fraud for purposes of:

• Authorizing the State Attorney General and prosecuting attorneys to conduct criminal prosecution
• Identifying the information necessary within the county where the victim resides or is found
• Granting local law enforcement agencies the jurisdiction to compile incident reports
• Enacting punishment, including incarceration, fines, and restitution
• Allowing victims to bring actions against perpetrators, including increased damages for intentional violations

SB 170 will now transfer to the House of Representatives for consideration.

RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
March 7, 2013

For Information Contact:
Jennifer Yarber, Interim Director
Jennifer.Yarber@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028