House Insurance Committee advances bill requiring insurers' prior-authorization 'gold card' programs

Senate Bill 5, requiring health insurers that use prior authorization to offer a so-called “gold card” program and to report program criteria to the Georgia Department of Insurance, was advanced by the House Insurance Committee on a voice vote.

The bill would require insurers that use prior authorization to have a program that fast-tracks providers who “consistently adhere to evidence based medicine,” and to provide the criteria for that program to the Department of Insurance. The sponsor told the committee the bill mirrors legislation passed in both chambers last year and said it is intended to reduce administrative burdens for providers and insurers.

“This bill should look very familiar to you,” Senator Kirkpatrick said. He told members the measure is “very similar to a bill that we passed in the senate and the house last year” and described the gold-card approach as a way carriers can “save time and money on both sides and ease administrative burdens on health care providers.”

The bill sets Jan. 1, 2026, as the effective date and requires the first filing of the program criteria with the Department of Insurance by July 1, 2026, according to the sponsor’s presentation. Supporters included Anna Rizika of the Medical Association of Georgia, who said the association “strongly support[s] this bill,” and Jesse Wellington, president of the Georgia Association of Health Plans, who thanked the sponsor and said members had no concerns.

Committee members voiced no questions during the public-comment period, and the chair called for passage. The committee approved the bill by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

After passage in committee, the sponsor identified Representative Hawkins as the member who will carry the measure in the House.