Legislation
Creation of Rural Healthcare 180
In 2016, the Georgia General Assembly passed SB 258 that allows individuals and businesses to make donations to Georgia’s financially-stressed rural hospitals in exchange for tax credits. In 2018, the Georgia General Assembly sweetened the deal by increasing the tax credits to 100 percent of the donations. Each year through 2021, $60 million will be available in tax credits for donations to rural hospitals. Hospitals eligible for the tax credits are selected and prioritized by the Department of Community Health according to financial need, and each hospital can receive up to $4 million in donations per year.
Following passage of SB 258, a public/private partnership was formed—Rural Healthcare 180. Honorary Co-Chairs Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle and Bill Linginfelter of Regions Bank joined Chairman Senator Dean Burke (R-Bainbridge) to create a taskforce charged with raising awareness of the critical financial climate facing rural hospitals and developing a sustainable financial model ensuring every Georgia has access to quality healthcare.
Taskforce Members
- Jimmy Allen (Pine Creek Turf—Adel)
- Don Betts (Georgia Tech—Ailey)
- Barbara Barrett (Langdale Industries—Valdosta)
- Dennis Chastain (Georgia EMC—Atlanta)
- Tim Eggena (Healthcare Driftwood Solutions—Hamilton)
- Mike Giles (Georgia Poultry Federation—Gainesville)
- Tim Golden (Capital Benefits Group—Valdosta)
- Jerry Gregory (Gregory Bridge Company—Eatonton)
- Rick Phillips (The Phillips Group—Toccoa)
- Baha Zeidan (Azalea Health—Atlanta)