Charity Care Providers Irked Over Veto of Popular Bill

Under House Bill 193, charity care clinics, federally qualified health centers, food banks, and other charities would have been able to buy medical supplies free of sales tax. 

Donna Looper of the Georgia Charitable Care Network said the bill would have saved providers about $9 million over three years.

“It affects our clinics because any money they wouldn’t have to pay out to provide patient care like sales tax would be money that could go directly into patient care. Every penny helps our clinics,” said Looper.

Nearly two million Georgians are uninsured. For many of them, medical visits are limited to hospital emergency rooms or charity care clinics.

State lawmakers liked the bill – it passed with overwhelming support in the Georgia House and Senate. It’s why Looper was surprised when the governor issued the veto. 

“Our clinics are still trying to meet the demand of the folks out there who need care and don’t have a place to go to go get it so it would have made a huge impact for us,” said Looper.

In a note included in the veto, Gov. Deal reaffirmed his position of no new tax breaks until his Competitiveness Initiative council could review them. But the council, which is a mix of public and private sector officials, hasn’t met since 2011. Deal’s spokesman says the council will reconvene by the end of the year.