| | 162nd Edition | April
01,
2024 |
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| State Affairs | 2024 Legislative Session
On March 28, after a 40-day session, the 2024 legislative session adjourned Sine Die. Since it is the second year of the biennium cycle, bills not passed by the conclusion of this session are considered “dead” and will have to be reintroduced next year. Appropriations for fiscal year 2025, HB 419, is the only piece of legislation the General Assembly is required to pass. Other debated measures this session included Certificate of Need, sports betting, tort reform and tax credits. Governor Kemp has 40 days to review all passed bills and either sign into law, veto or take no action (in which case the bill becomes law). OGCA’s state affairs team was at the Capitol every day this session tracking legislation, connecting with legislators and promoting Emory’s priorities. A full report of the 2024 legislative session is being developed. |
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| Federal Affairs | Visit by U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs
On March 25, U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough met with nursing students at Emory. During the visit, Secretary McDonough emphasized the importance that nurses play in the U.S. health care system, particularly among the nation’s veterans and families. Read more about Secretary McDonough’s visit here. |
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|  | | Rep. McBath Highlights Emory's Violence Prevention Program
On March 28, Rep. Lucy McBath highlighted Emory’s work in violence prevention at the Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative grant briefing held at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center. This event focused on grant opportunities for programs that focus on violence prevention. Rep. McBath used Emory’s collaboration with Grady and the Urban Health Institute as an example to show how federal grant opportunities help to implement new programs to reduce violence in the community. |
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|  | | Government Funding Update
Just before the deadline, Congress passed a fiscal year 2024 appropriations bill funding the government until Sept. 30 of this year. The appropriations package included level funding for several of Emory’s programs including the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center. We are also pleased to see more than $500,000 for new equipment for the Emory University Hospital Midtown’s NICU unit. Several programs received small reductions from the previous level — the National Institutes of Health received a cut of less than 1%. The OGCA team will continue to work closely with our partners on Capitol Hill to advocate for funding for health care, education, research and other programs important to Emory.
Change Healthcare Cyberattack
Following the cyberattack on Change Healthcare, members of the Georgia delegation signed several Dear Colleague letters urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to ensure timely payments for hospitals affected by the attack. Along with Emory Healthcare leadership, the OGCA team has met with senior leaders at HHS, Senate Finance Committee, Senate HELP committee and our health care associations to discuss the impact this has had on Emory Healthcare. We expect congressional hearings to begin once Congress returns on April 8.
RSPH Dean Visits Capitol Hill
Earlier this month, Dean Dani Fallin, Emory’s Dean of the Rollins School of Public Health, met with members of the Georgia delegation and Senate committee staff to share about the great work happening in Georgia to improve maternal health outcomes. |
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|  | | Pathways Career Trek to DC
During Emory’s spring break, 24 of our undergraduate students traveled to D.C. to learn more about careers in public service and other jobs based in our nation’s capital. During their Pathways Career trek, students attended a panel event to hear from Emory alumni who work on Capitol Hill, all of whom are good partners to the OGCA team. |
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|  | | | Pictured above from left to right are Laila Goharioon, Health Policy Adviser for the Democratic Whip, Representative Katherine Clark (D-MA); Elizabeth Farrar, Staff Director for the Democratic Party, Senate Committee on Rules and Administration; Nate Benson, Military Legislative Assistant, Representative Cory Mills (R-FL); Ben Palmer, Legislative Correspondent/ Intern Coordinator, Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN). |
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| Community Affairs | Meet and Greet with Stonecrest Mayor
On March 21, the Mayor of Stonecrest, Jazzmin Cobble (pictured below center), visited Emory Hillandale Hospital for a meet and greet with hospital leadership. The visit opened valuable dialogue on enhancing collaboration and partnership opportunities with the City of Stonecrest, aiming to further engage our community. We also toured the newly expanded emergency department and the renovated intensive care unit, part of the capital improvements funded by DeKalb County. |
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|  | | State of DeKalb Animals
DeKalb Commissioner Michelle Long Spears will host the inaugural State of DeKalb Animals (SODA) address and luncheon on April 10, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., at the DeKalb History Center in downtown Decatur. Dr. Gregory Berns, Emory professor and bestselling author of “What it’s Like to be a Dog,” will be the keynote speaker. Commissioner Spears will also lead a panel discussion with subject matter experts. More details on the event and a link to register can be found on the DeKalb County website. |
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