This bill proposes amendments to Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia, which addresses the regulation and construction of hospitals and other health care facilities. The revisions stipulate that bad debts and underpayment for Medicare services will not be included as indigent (poor) and charity care in community benefit reports by hospital authorities. The bill also proposes the removal of hospital authorities’ immunity from antitrust liability (laws that prohibit business practices considered to be harmful competition).

Another crucial part of the bill is the requirement for hospitals and other health care providers to provide additional information in their annual reports, such as total gross revenues, bad debts, amounts of free care extended, and various demographics data about patients.