JACOBS DROPS LEGISLATION TO END CONFLICT OF INTEREST ON LOCAL HOSPITAL AUTHORITIES

ATLANTA — State Representative Mike Jacobs (R-DeKalb) today introduced legislation that will prohibit board members of a local hospital authority like the Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority from serving in executive positions at the hospitals they oversee.

“The Grady Hospital authority’s recent appointment of its board chair as interim CEO presents a conflict of interest of epic proportions,” Jacobs said.  “In order to protect the interests of the hospitals, the patients they serve, and the taxpayers, we must not allow individuals to serve simultaneously on a hospital authority and as an executive at a hospital under their supervision.

“It is astounding that in Grady’s dire situation, the hospital authority would choose to add a major conflict of interest to the authority’s long history of mismanagement,” Jacobs added.

Jacobs said he will work with his colleagues to ensure that any legislation adopted regarding Grady Hospital during this year’s legislative session includes the language in his new legislation.

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