House Insurance Committee advances five health‑insurance bills including prior‑authorization 'gold‑card' requirement

The Georgia House Insurance Committee advanced five health‑insurance measures during a committee hearing, approving on voice votes a Senate bill that would require insurers using prior authorization to implement a so‑called “gold card” program and four House bills addressing genetic testing for cancer, earlier prostate‑cancer screening for some men, insurer payment transparency and pretax health‑savings accounts for high‑deductible plans.

Senator Kirkpatrick, the Senate sponsor of Senate Bill 5, said, “This bill should look very familiar to you. It's very similar to a bill that we passed in the senate and the house last year,” and described the proposal as requiring health insurers that use prior authorization to maintain a gold‑card program and provide the program’s criteria to the Georgia Department of Insurance. Anna Rizika, who identified herself as a staff member with the Medical Association of Georgia, told the committee she spoke “on behalf of our members” to express “our strong support for this bill.” Jesse Wellington, president of the Georgia Association of Health Plans, also voiced support and thanked the sponsor for working with the industry.

The committee approved Senate Bill 5 on a voice vote after public testimony in favor and no recorded roll‑call. The bill would take effect Jan. 1, 2026, with a first filing due July 1, 2026, according to the sponsor’s remarks.

House Bill 420 (LC 520769S) was returned to the committee because earlier substitute copies were not distributed correctly; Representative Taylor explained the…