Archives: Bills

HB 196 would require greater transparency and fairness in how pharmacies are reimbursed for prescription drugs under Georgia’s State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP). The bill sets new rules for how pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) and insurers must calculate drug reimbursements, aiming to ensure pharmacies receive fair payment for dispensing medications.

HB 506 would provide Medicaid coverage for tobacco cessation treatments; to provide for requirements; to provide for submission of a state plan amendment or waiver, if necessary; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act making and providing appropriations for the State Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2024, and ending June 30, 2025, known as the “General Appropriations Act,” Act No. 709, approved May 7, 2024, so as to make, provide, and change certain appropriations for the operation of the state government and its departments, boards, bureaus, commissions, institutions, and other agencies, for the university system, common schools, counties, municipalities, and political subdivisions, for all other governmental activities, projects, and undertakings authorized by law, and for all leases, contracts, agreements, and grants authorized by law; to provide for the control and administration of funds; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

SB 276 would recover medical assistance from third party liable for sickness, injury, disease, or disability, so as to revise certain provisions to comply with federal law; to bar liable third-party payers from refusing payment solely because a healthcare item or service did not receive prior authorization; to require a third-party payer to respond to an inquiry from the Department of Community Health regarding a healthcare claim within 60 days; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

HB 323 would provide for Medicare supplement policies to be issued and renewed for individuals under 65 years of age who are eligible by reason of disability or end stage renal disease under federal law; to provide for open enrollment periods; to prohibit an insurer from charging premium rates for such policies for such individuals that exceed premium rates charged for individuals who are 65 years of age; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to provide for effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

SB 30 would prohibit prescribing or administering certain hormone therapies and puberty-blocking medications for certain purposes to minors; to provide for definitions; to provide for limited exceptions; to provide for a remedy for a parent or guardian of a minor; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

SB 72 relates to terminally ill patient’s right to try investigational drugs, biological products, and devices, so as to expand access to individualized investigational treatments to patients who have severely debilitating or life-threatening illnesses; to provide for definitions; to provide for eligibility criteria; to provide for written informed consent; to allow certain manufacturers or eligible facilities to make available individualized investigational treatments; to provide that coverage is not mandatory; to prohibit the sanctions against a physician’s license; to provide exemption to liability for certain charges; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

SB 28, known as the “Red Tape Rollback Act of 2025,” proposes changes to how state laws and regulations are created, reviewed, and removed. The bill aims to reduce what some view as overly burdensome rules and laws enacted by the government by streamlining the process of deciding how laws will be implemented (rule-making) and requiring regular reviews of existing rules and regulations. While intended to increase efficiency and transparency, this bill could have significant effects on Georgia’s health policies and public health programs.

HB 410 would provide for efficiency in the practices of the Department of Insurance; to revise the statutory deposit requirement for foreign insurers; to remove fees for branch licensees; to revise application requirements for a domestic stock and mutual insurer; to remove the publication requirement for application, amendments, and surrenders for such insurer; to remove such publication requirement for charters, consolidations, and mergers of fraternal benefit societies; to revise application requirements for farmers’ mutual fire insurance companies; to remove the licensure requirement for agency branches; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

HB 124 would require coverage for healthcare services for pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infection (PANDAS) and pediatric acute onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS) in accordance with nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines; to provide for definitions; to allow for deductibles; to prohibit special deductibles; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.