Blog

On February 5, the Georgia House of Representatives passed its version of the Amended Fiscal Year 2026 (AFY26) state budget. The amended budget adjusts current-year spending and reflects lawmakers’ priorities for any remaining state dollars.

Here is what the House version means for health care, human services, and the programs Georgians rely on:

The Big Picture

The House budget totals $42.3 billion, a significant increase over the original FY 2026 budget, thanks to $3.3 billion in one-time investments of surplus funds. Among its health-related priorities, the House makes notable investments in Georgia’s foster care system, the health care workforce pipeline, rural health access, and mental health infrastructure. The House largely aligns with the Governor on Medicaid and PeachCare funding, with a few targeted additions.

On Wednesday, January 28, the House Health Committee passed a substitute version of Senate Bill 195, which would allow Georgia pharmacists to dispense pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV prevention without requiring a separate doctor’s prescription. If passed, pharmacists would operate under a statewide protocol developed by the Georgia Board of Pharmacy, with oversight from a Georgia-based physician.

The substitute version passed on Wednesday includes new requirements compared to the bill that passed committee unanimously last year:

• Both supervising physicians and pharmacists must reside in Georgia;
• Pharmacists must complete approved training and maintain Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification and liability insurance;
• Patients must have an in-person visit and remain for 15-minute post-administration monitoring; and
• Pharmacists must notify the patient’s primary care provider within 72 hours.

Potential concerns: While framed as patient safety measures, these amendments may limit pharmacist participation and patient access. The in-state residency requirement excludes telehealth-based protocols used in other states, training and insurance requirements add costs that may discourage participation, and the primary care notification requirement could deter individuals seeking confidential services.

GHF supports SB 195 as a meaningful step toward expanding access to HIV prevention in Georgia. Monitoring implementation will be important: if limited pharmacist participation results from the additional requirements, this data could support future amendments to strengthen access while maintaining appropriate safeguards.

For years, caregiving has been treated like something that happens quietly in the background. But here’s the truth: caregiving isn’t a side story anymore. It’s central to American life and to the strength of our workforce.

In Georgia and across the country, that reality is already shaping how people work, care for their families, and engage with our health systems. Yet too often, our policies and workplaces haven’t caught up.

During National Family Caregivers Month, we described caregiving as “love in motion.” It is an act of commitment, resilience, and sacrifice, but love alone doesn’t provide paid leave, affordable services, or mental health support. As caregiving becomes more common, one question grows more urgent: Who is caring for the caregivers?

If your health insurance costs went up this year, you are not alone.

Thousands of Georgians are paying more for their Georgia Access coverage right now. Some have seen their monthly premiums double or even triple. Others have had to choose cheaper plans with higher deductibles or drop coverage completely. These aren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet. They represent real families making difficult decisions about their health and financial security. Are you one of these Georgians?