Who We Are

The “Georgia Ortho-PAC”, is the Political Action Arm of the Georgia Orthopaedic Society. It is your voice, your strength, your access to the State Capitol. All funds collected are used to support state candidates seeking state or administrative office.

Our Purpose

•   To financially support state candidates for public office who understand medical issues and are aligned with the legislative positions of the Georgia Orthopaedic Society

•   To educate state candidates who are running for political office on issues affecting physicians in Georgia

•   Assist and encourage orthopaedic surgeons to individually participate in campaign efforts and establish a relationship with local elected officials

•   Assist and encourage orthopaedic surgeons to understand the nature of the legislative and political process

•   Encourage and support medical doctors to run for state office

One goal of the Georgia Ortho-PAC is to create opportunities for GOS members to interact with their legislators and elected officials. When contributions are presented, we work to arrange a direct presentation between our members and the candidate or elected official. This allows our members the opportunity to develop a personal relationship with them and to let them know that physicians remain dedicated to the preservation and advancement of quality patient care in Georgia.

The 2025 legislative session was a successful one for doctors. The following is an outline of the different bills that were passed supporting the medical community in 2025.

FY’26 Budget

The General Assembly approved a $37.4 billion FY2026 budget with several provisions that directly support Georgia’s medical workforce and specialty care system.

The budget includes $8 million in new funding to expand graduate medical education slots, with orthopedics listed as a priority specialty. The goal is simple—train more surgeons here, keep them here, and address shortages statewide.

The budget also sets aside more than $3 million to support the rollout of the new tort reform laws. That includes setting up pretrial screening panels, funding training and oversight, and building out the systems needed to make these reforms work in practice.

There’s continued support for rural loan repayment programs and recruitment bonuses, helping attract more orthopedic providers to underserved communities. Additionally, the state will begin a review of Medicaid reimbursement for physicians—to make sure high-demand specialties like ours remain financially sustainable.

Tort Reform

This session delivered a long-overdue win on medical liability reform. Senate Bills 68 and 69 aim to restore fairness in the legal system, reduce unnecessary litigation, and help physicians—especially those in high-risk specialties—stay focused on patient care rather than courtroom threats.

The new laws address long-standing problems, such as phantom damages, where inflated charges are presented in court rather than the actual amount paid. They also crack down on anchoring, the tactic of introducing a massive dollar figure at the start of a case to sway a jury. The reforms prohibit venue shopping too, requiring that malpractice lawsuits are filed where the care happened, not in a county chosen for legal advantage.

SB 68 also sets up a pretrial screening process, where panels made up of specialty-matched physicians evaluate the merits of malpractice claims before they can proceed. That extra layer of review should help limit meritless lawsuits while still protecting a patient’s right to legal recourse.

Scope of Practice

Early in the session, there was renewed interest from the physical therapy community in expanding the scope of practice through legislative action. However, following initial outreach and engagement from GOS leadership, those efforts did not advance this year. We will remain vigilant as similar proposals could resurface in future sessions. Maintaining clear scope boundaries remains a top priority to ensure patient safety and the integrity of orthopedic care.

Leadership Elections

Following a busy legislative session, the Senate Majority Caucus held leadership elections. Senator John Kennedy stepped down from his role as President Pro Tempore—the Senate’s second-highest position—as he pursues a run for Lieutenant Governor. The Caucus has nominated Senator Larry Walker III to fill the vacancy. His election will be confirmed by the full Senate when they reconvene in January.

Senator Jason Anavitarte, who previously served as Majority Caucus Chairman, has been selected to serve as the new Senate Majority Leader. Additionally, Senator Steve Gooch stepped down from his leadership role to pursue his own campaign for Lieutenant Governor.

Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones and Attorney General Chris Carr have also announced their campaigns for Governor in the upcoming 2026 election.

Why We Do It – Results Matter!!

Your contributions to the GOS PAC are leveraged to ensure that member physicians have a true voice in government. It allows GOS to provide non-partisan support to key policymakers who influence how your practice is governed, funded, and allowed to operate.

These ongoing leadership shifts at the State Capitol demonstrate why strong relationships and consistent engagement matter. The GOS PAC plays a critical role in helping shape who leads and how healthcare policy is formed in Georgia.

The PAC operates with the highest moral and ethical standards. Policy makers are vetted by the Board of Directors, and our members are directly involved in the distribution of contributions to key elected officials. This ensures your hard-earned dollars have the maximum impact.

We hope you will consider making a contribution to the PAC today. It is vital to our cause—and vital to the continued success the Society has experienced in the public policy arena.

If you have any questions, I encourage you to reach out to your board members and feel free to contact our lobbyist, Don Bolia at 404-314-4844.

Online Contribution