Georgia Blocks ‘Granny Cam’ Legislation

A bill to allow personal care home and assisted living residents to install electronic monitoring equipment in their rooms has been blocked by the Georgia General Assembly, according to an article on the McKnight’s Senior Living website.The bill also covered nursing homes.

 A resident would have to provide written consent from any roommate and notify a facility before installing a device.

Some in the long-term care industry have opposed the “granny cam” legislation, citing privacy issues. 

“Surveillance cameras observe — they do not protect — and the use of such cameras in a healthcare setting significantly increases the risk of violating HIPAA [Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act], federal and state privacy regulations,” Tony Marshall, president and CEO of the Georgia Health Care Association said in the article.

 Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Utah — have laws allowing the cameras. New Jersey also has a “Safe Care Cam” program that loans micro-surveillance equipment to healthcare consumers.

Read the full McKnight’s article.