Home > About Us > Divisions/Offices > Divisions > General Counsel Division

General Counsel Division

Office of General Counsel:  Provides overall guidance and direction for the operations of the Division; drafts and reviews contracts, request for proposals, and other procurement documents; provides legal services for all aspects of the State Health Benefit Plans; develops policies and procedures for compliance with federal and state privacy and public records requirements; drafts rules, regulations and policies for consideration by the Board of Community Health; provides staff support for the Health Planning Review Board.

Legal Services Section: Provides legal services for all aspects of the Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids™ programs, including representation of the department in administrative proceedings, litigation support to the Department of Law, research and drafting of Medicaid and PeachCare policy and procedures.

Certificate of Need Section:  Administers Georgia's Certificate of Need program.  Conducts reviews of CON applications and issues CON decisions.

Health Planning Section:  Collects health care data, helps to develop policies for health care services and provides staff, data, and analytical support for the Certficate of Need program, Health Strategies Council, and for the Department in general.

Health Strategies Council:  As per Senate Bill 433 the role and responsibilities of the Health Strategies Council has changed effective July 1, 2008.  The Health Strategies Council is currently pending new appointments by the Governor.

Certificate of Need Appeal Panel: Composed of members appointed by the Governor the CON Appeal Panel serves as a panel of independent hearing officers to review the Department’s initial decisions to grant or deny a certificate of need application.

Contracts Administration Section: Manages the contracting process for the Department.  The Section is responsible for document review and drafting, contract management, file maintenance, training, and contingency planning.  In accordance with its mandate, the section responds to contract needs of every Division in the Department.