Rep. Scott Hilton Awarded 2025 Legislator with Heart Award, Recognized for Leadership in Medicaid Tobacco Cessation Coverage

ATLANTA - State Representative Scott Hilton (R-Peachtree Corners), chairman of the House Information and Audits Committee, recently was honored by the American Heart Association as a 2025 Legislator with Heart for his work to ensure Medicaid members who use tobacco can access cessation tools without barriers.

"I am incredibly grateful to the American Heart Association for this generous recognition," said Rep. Hilton. "Tobacco use is a preventable cause of chronic illness and costs our state millions each year. We're hopeful that House Bill 506 will pass the Senate this session and help improve health outcomes while saving taxpayer dollars."

During the 2025 legislative session, Rep. Hilton championed removing Medicaid barriers, such as cost-sharing and ensuring coverage for counseling, with the objective of giving people the tools they need to succeed when attempting to quit tobacco usage.

House Bill 506, legislation that Rep. Hilton introduced during the 2025 legislative session, would require the Department of Community Health to provide Medicaid coverage for tobacco cessation treatment. HB 506 passed the House during the 2025 legislative session with bipartisan support and was tabled in the Senate. This legislation could be up for consideration during the 2026 legislative session.

The American Heart Association seeks to be a force for a world of longer, healthier lives, and they work to help ensure equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations and powered by volunteers, they fund research, advocate for the public's health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a source of health information for a century, and during 2024, they celebrated their 100-year history and accomplishments. For more information about this organization, please visit https://www.heart.org.

*Editor's note: Rep. Hilton includes a photo.

Representative Scott Hilton represents the citizens of District 48, which includes portions of Fulton and Gwinnett counties. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2016 and re-elected in 2022 and 2024 and currently serves as the Chairman of the Information and Audits Committee and as Secretary of the Education Committee. He also serves on the Public and Community Health, State Properties and Ways & Means committees.

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