O.C.G.A. § 31-16-1
Findings; declaration of purpose
Redline — December 1, 2018 → current.View current text →
Current — December 1, 2020
As of December 1, 2018
(1) It is declared and found that one of the most serious and tragic problems facing the public health and welfare is the death of hundreds of persons in this state every year from chronic renal disease, although the present state of medical arts and technology could return these persons to a socially productive life. Advances and discoveries in the treatment of patients suffering from chronic renal disease now allow not mere survival but rehabilitation of these patients to their normal occupations and activities. Presently, these patients are dying for lack of personal financial resources to pay for the expensive equipment and care which they need.
(2) The state recognizes its responsibilities to allow its citizens to keep their health without being pauperized and to use its resources and organization to aid in gathering and disseminating information on the treatment of chronic renal disease. It is believed that these programs will, by making treatment of chronic renal disease easily available, steadily lower the cost of such treatment.
(1) The physician and that physician's patient retain the discretion to determine whether or not a kidney dialyzer should be reused. No licensed kidney dialysis clinic or provider of kidney dialysis services which is certificated by the Department of Community Health may interfere with the exercise of that discretion by: Requiring the reuse of such dialyzer over the objection of that physician and patient; or
(2) Discriminating against a physician specializing in the practice of nephrology by prohibiting that physician from practicing in such clinic or performing dialysis services for such provider if that discrimination is based upon that physician's refusal to reuse a dialyzer and that refusal is based on the patient's informed consent.
(3) A provider of kidney dialysis services who is required to comply with subsection (a) of this Code section but who does not so comply shall have no claim or cause of action for reimbursement for those services which were rendered without that compliance.
Current official text: Official Code of Georgia Annotated (LexisNexis). Digitized from the Internet Archive scan of the OCGA. Reproduced from public-domain Georgia statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.