HB352: HB352 Georgia Gestational Diabetes Management Act; enact

Georgia Medicaid already covers continuous glucose monitors for some people with diabetes, based on criteria written into state law (O.C.G.A. § 49-4-159.4). Those criteria required that a recipient either use daily insulin or have a history of serious low blood sugar episodes. This bill, titled the Georgia Gestational Diabetes Management Act, adds a third path to qualify: having gestational diabetes, a form of diabetes that develops during pregnancy. The bill keeps the existing requirements that a treating practitioner diagnose the recipient with diabetes and confirm the recipient or their caregiver has been trained to use the monitor. It also moves the effective date for this Medicaid coverage benefit from July 1, 2023 to July 1, 2025. Once in effect, the Georgia Department of Community Health must offer this coverage through the most cost-effective delivery method available.

• Adds gestational diabetes as a qualifying condition for Georgia Medicaid coverage of continuous glucose monitors, alongside existing criteria for insulin users and people with severe hypoglycemia.
• Updates the effective date of this Medicaid benefit requirement from July 1, 2023 to July 1, 2025.
• Keeps in place the existing requirement that a treating practitioner diagnose the recipient with diabetes mellitus before coverage applies.
• Keeps the requirement that the recipient or their caregiver show they have been trained to use the monitor, evidenced by a prescription.
• Directs the department to deliver this Medicaid benefit through the most cost-effective channel available.
• Gives the Act a short title, the 'Georgia Gestational Diabetes Management Act.'

Pregnant Georgians on Medicaid who are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, their treating practitioners who must document diagnosis and training, and the Georgia Department of Community Health, which administers Medicaid and must update its coverage criteria and delivery methods accordingly.

Continuous glucose monitors let people track blood sugar without frequent finger-prick tests, which can help manage gestational diabetes during pregnancy. By adding this condition as a qualifying category, more Medicaid recipients would become eligible for monitor coverage without needing to also meet the insulin-use or severe hypoglycemia criteria.

• Section 1 names the short title, the 'Georgia Gestational Diabetes Management Act.'
• Section 2 amends O.C.G.A. § 49-4-159.4(a) to change the coverage start reference from July 1, 2023 to July 1, 2025.
• Section 2 adds 'Has gestational diabetes' as a new standalone qualifying criterion under paragraph (3), separate from insulin use or hypoglycemia history.
• Section 2 retains the diagnosis and training documentation requirements in paragraphs (1) and (2).
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-05-14Effective Date 2025-07-01
2. 2025-05-14Act 260
3. 2025-05-14House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2025-04-09House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2025-04-04House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub (House)
6. 2025-04-04Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
7. 2025-04-04Senate Third Read (Senate)
8. 2025-04-04Senate Taken from Table (Senate)

• Devan Seabaugh (R, HD-034)Primary sponsor
• Sharon Cooper (R, HD-045)
• Danny Mathis (R, HD-133)
• Darlene Taylor (R, HD-173)
• Teddy Reese (D, HD-140)
• Carter Barrett (R, HD-024)
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 24, 2025

   169 yea, 2 nay (2 not voting, 7 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #71

2. PassedHouse voteApril 4, 2025

   163 yea, 2 nay (3 not voting, 12 absent)

   Agree To Senate Substitute: House Vote #452

3. PassedSenate voteApril 4, 2025

   51 yea, 1 nay (1 not voting, 3 absent)

   Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #462

• Medicaid coverage
• gestational diabetes
• continuous glucose monitors
• maternal health
• diabetes management