Hospital 'bed tax' clears GA senate

The Georgia Senate passed legislation Thursday to extend a tax on hospitals aimed at filling a Medicaid shortfall. The bill, which was approved 46-9, has the blessing of the state's hospital industry. It would raise $689 million in state and federal funds to help provide health care to about 100,000 additional low-income and disabled Georgians expected to join the Medicaid rolls as a result of federal health-care reform. Without that additional revenue, the state would be forced to slash Medicaid reimbursements to hospitals by 20 percent,