Chapter

CARE AND PROTECTION OF INDIGENT AND ELDERLY PATIENTS

O.C.G.A. § 31-8-1— Establishment and purpose of program; administration
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-2— Definitions
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-3— Disbursement of state funds to counties
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-4— Qualification of counties for participation in program
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-5— Submission of budget by county
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-6— Credit for expenditures by county
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-7— Qualifications for assistance under program; waiver of residence requirements in emergencies
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-8— Agreements between department and other governmental agencies or private organizations to obtain funds
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-9— Use of gifts and donations
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-9.1— Eligibility to receive tax credits; obligations of rural hospitals after receipt of funds; posting information on website
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-10— Rules and regulations
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-11— Construction of article
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-30— Findings; purpose of article
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-31— Definitions
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-32— Determination of indigency
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-33— Creation of fund
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-34— Maintenance of records; certification of cost of care; determination of amount of fund
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-35— Payments from fund to hospitals
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-36— State appropriations to fund
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-37— Compliance with this article contingent upon appropriation
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-40— Legislative findings and purpose
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-41— Definitions
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-42— Requirement of hospitals with emergency services to provide care to pregnant women in labor
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-43— Determination of indigency; payment of services provided under Code Section 31-8-42 for indigent patients by county; records; administration
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-43.1— Extent of patient’s liability for costs; required coop- eration of patient with county; liability of father for costs; action by county to recover costs or challenge determination of liability
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-44— Immunity of hospital or health care provider from liability
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-45— Availability of cause of action for patient wrongfully denied care
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-46— Investigation; penalties; rules and regulations
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-50— Declaration of policy
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-51— Definitions
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-52— Establishment of long-term care ombudsman program
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-53— Duties of state ombudsman
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-54— Duties of community ombudsmen
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-55— Entry and investigative authority; cooperation of government agencies; communication with residents
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-56— Resolution of complaints
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-57— Reporting abuse
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-58— Confidentiality
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-59— Notice to residents
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-60— Retaliation against resident and interference with ombudsman prohibited; provisions applicable to violations
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-61— Liability for provision of information
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-62— Liability arising from complaints
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-63— Rules and regulations
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-80— Short title
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-81— Definitions
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-82— Persons required to report abuse or exploitation; time for making report; contents of report; records; privileged communications
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-83— Investigations
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-84— Evaluation of results of investigation; protection of resident
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-85— Immunity from liability
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-86— Confidentiality
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-87— Retaliation prohibited
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-88— Notice of requirements of article
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-100— Short title
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-101— Legislative intent
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-102— Definitions
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-103— Rights of residents generally
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-104— Explanation of rights; acknowledgment of explanation; posting of rights at facilities
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-105— Giving certain notices to persons who became residents before July 1, 1981
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-106— Information to be provided residents upon admission; list of current rates and services; bill for charges; access to nonmedical records
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-107— Refusal of admission or continued residence on the basis of history or condition of mental or physical disease or disability
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-108— Required care, treatment, and services; rights in regard thereto; experimental research or treatment
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-109— Use or threat of physical restraints, isolation, or restrictions on mobility
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-110— Right to select pharmacy or pharmacist; charges for pharmaceutical supplies and services; information as to purpose and effects of drugs
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-111— Rights as citizen
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-112— Freedom from duty to perform services for facility; right to rise and retire at times of resident’s choice; tobacco and alcoholic beverages; freedom to enter and leave facility
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-113— Right to retain and use personal property at facility; provision of secure storage space for such property; records of stored property; investigation of complaints of theft
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-114— Right to privacy
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-115— Use of payments made to or on behalf of a resident; right of resident or his guardian to manage the resident’s financial affairs; assistance by facility in such management
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-116— Involuntary transfer of residents discharged from facility; return to facility after transfer
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-117— Suspension of certain rights where exercise poses danger to self or other residents; notice of suspension; duration
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-118— Freedom from interference in exercise of rights and pursuit of interests; accommodation of conflicting rights; voicing of complaints and recommendation of changes
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-119— Obtaining contributions by coercion; use of contributions designated for a restricted purpose; receipts and records of contributions
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-120— Visitors; right of access
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-121— Formation of residents’ council; space for meetings; assistance in attending meetings; compelling of attendance or participation
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-122— Compliance with this article by facilities; establishment by facilities of written policies and procedures; familiarization of facility staff with this article
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-123— Use of state or community ombudsman to resolve residents’ complaints
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-124— Grievances
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-125— Administrative hearings
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-126— Cause of action against facility for violation of rights under this article; civil penalties; applicability of Code Section 31-5-8
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-127— Rules and regulations
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-130— Short title
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-131— Legislative findings and intent
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-132— Definitions
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-133— Residents’ rights
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-134— Grievance procedure
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-135— Hearing; transfer of resident
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-136— Action for damages
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-137— Temporary restraining order; injunctions
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-138— Failure to validly license as defense
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-139— Mandamus
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-150— Constitutional authority for passage of article
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-151— Definitions
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-152— No other funds shall be deposited into any such segregated account or accounts
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-153— Contributions to trust fund
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-153.1— Irrevocable transfer of funds to trust fund; provision for indigent patients
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-153.2— Revenues raised from specified sources
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-153.3— No lapse of contributions to the general fund
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-154— Authorized expenditure of contributed funds
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-155— Promulgation of rules for funding expansions of eligibility and indigent care programs
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-156— Appropriation of state funds by General Assembly
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-157— Refunding contributed funds; penalties not refunded
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-158— Refunding funds not appropriated or determined void or ineligible
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-159— Reporting requirements
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-160— Applicability of Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-161— Legislative authority
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-162— Definitions
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-163— Segregated account of revenues raised through provider fees
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-164— Provider fee based on patient day; quarterly payment required
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-165— Use of segregated account funds; form for reporting provider fee; maintenance of records; inaccurate payments; penalty for failing to pay
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-166— General Assembly appropriations of segregated funds; match to federal funds; no lapsing at end of fiscal year
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-167— Annual report by department to General Assembly
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-168— Request for waiver from United States Department of Health and Human Services
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-169— Application of the Medical Assistance Act of 1977
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-170— Legislative authority
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-171— Definitions
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-172— Segregated account for the deposit of fees
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-173— Assessment, calculation, and payment of fees
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-174— Collection and disposition of fees; authority of department to inspect records of care management organizations; overpayment or underpayment; penalty for failure to pay fee
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-175— Appropriation of revenues to the department
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-176— Annual report by the department
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-177— Applicability of the Georgia Medical Assistance Act of 1977
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-179— (Repealed effective June 30, 2025) Short title
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-179.1— (Repealed effective June 30, 2025) Definitions
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-179.2— (Repealed effective June 30, 2025) Department of Community Health authorized to assess one or more provider payments on hospitals for the purpose of obtaining federal financial participation for Medicaid
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-179.4— (Repealed effective June 30, 2025) Authorized use of appropriated funds
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-179.5— (Repealed effective June 30, 2025) Applicability of Georgia Medical Assistance Act
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-179.6— (Repealed effective June 30, 2025) Automatic repeal
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-180— Definitions
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-181— Individuals and hospitals excluded from application of article
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-182— Disclosure of care, treatment, or therapeutic activities required; disclosure form
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-183— Areas covered by disclosure requirements
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-184— Failure to provide disclosure; review and verification of disclosure form
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-190— Short title
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-191— Legislative findings and intent
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-192— Definitions
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-193— Establishment of program; contracts with health care providers
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-194— Notice to patients required
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-195— Volunteers to provide services
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-195.1— Sovereign immunity protection for health care professionals in safety net clinics
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-196— Exemption from employment regulations
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-197— Annual report of claims statistics
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-198— Annual report by the department summarizing the efficiency of access and treatment outcomes
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-199— Department’s responsibilities regarding liability insurance
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-200— Adoption of rules and regulations
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-201— Applicability; preservation of the state’s rights under the Tort Claims Act
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-300— Definitions
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-301— Drug repository program established; criteria and requirements for unused over-the-counter and prescription drugs
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-302— Procedures for donation and dispensing of unused over-the-counter and prescription drugs
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-303— Limited liability
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-304— Rules and regulations; waiver