ATLANTA (February 22, 2016) | On Monday, the Georgia State Senate passed by an unanimous vote of 52-0 Senate Bill 337. Sen. Larry Walker III (R – Perry) sponsored SB 337, the Military Family Health Protection Act. SB 337 provides Georgia active military personnel and their dependents the right to eligibility and retention of earned priority for medical assistance or developmental disability services, even if they are temporarily stationed outside of Georgia.
“I would like to thank the Senate for their swift action on this important piece of legislation,” said Sen. Walker III. “Passing this significant legislation makes life easier and less challenging for those who have given up so much for our safety and freedom. Supporting our military is the right and moral thing to do.”
SB 337 not only secures eligibility rights but also requires the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) to keep a database of such residents and a waiting list of Georgia dependents that are temporarily relocated to another state. The database and waiting list aims to protect the dependents coverage and ensures there will not be a lapse in coverage if the family is relocated to another state and then relocates back to Georgia. SB 337 notes that medical assistance or developmental disability services will not be paid for or provided outside of Georgia.
Senate Bill 337 will now go to the Georgia House of Representatives for consideration.
# # # #
For Immediate Release:
February 22, 2016
For Information Contact:
Jennifer Yarber, Director
Ines Owens, Sr. Communications Specialist
Ines.Owens@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028