Bill calls for legislators to examine health department spending

The Senate passed a bill Thursday that would create an overview committee of legislators to work with the Department of Community Health to examine practices and identify potential savings in the department.

Senate Bill 62 is sponsored by Sen. Judson Hill, R-Marietta, and would require the committee to have legislators from both chambers of the General Assembly.

The state’s Community Health Department oversees Georgia’s massive Medicaid health care program for the poor, which covers mostly pregnant women, children, the elderly and disabled. The program busted its budget by $32 million last fiscal year.