Georgia CommonsHouse · Introduced · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HB 1002: Social services; transfer Medicaid coverage for foster children from managed care to fee-for-service
Last action February 19, 2026 · House Committee Favorably Reported
House Bill 1002 would move Medicaid coverage for children and young adults in Georgia's foster care system out of managed care plans and into the state's direct fee-for-service Medicaid program.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Introduced version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
Right now, Medicaid coverage for foster children in Georgia is handled through a care management organization, a private managed care plan the state contracts with. This bill would create a new Code section requiring the Department of Community Health to shift that coverage to fee-for-service Medicaid, where the state pays health care providers directly instead of through a managed care plan. The change would happen when the current managed care contract expires or renews, or earlier if the contract allows it. The bill covers foster children under 18 as well as young people up to age 26 who were in foster care and had Medicaid on their 18th birthday. The department would need to submit any required amendments to its Medicaid state plan to the federal Department of Health and Human Services. The new law would automatically expire on December 31, 2028, and would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it.
What the bill does
- Requires the Department of Community Health to move Medicaid coverage for foster children from a managed care organization to the fee-for-service Medicaid program.
- Defines 'foster child' to include those under 18 in Georgia's foster care system and those up to age 26 who were in foster care and had Medicaid at age 18.
- Sets the transfer to occur when the current managed care contract expires or renews, or sooner if the contract permits it.
- Requires the department to submit any necessary Medicaid state plan amendments to the federal Department of Health and Human Services.
- Automatically repeals the new Code section on December 31, 2028.
Who it affects
Foster children and young adults up to age 26 who aged out of foster care while on Medicaid, the Department of Community Health, the Division of Family and Children Services, and the care management organization currently contracted to provide their Medicaid coverage.
Why it matters
Foster children currently get Medicaid through a managed care plan; this bill would switch them to a system where the state pays medical providers directly. That could change which providers accept their coverage and how claims and care coordination are handled, at least through 2028 when the change expires.
Key provisions
- Adds new Code section 49-4-159.5 to Georgia's Medicaid law (O.C.G.A. Title 49, Chapter 4, Article 7).
- Subsection (a) defines 'contract' and 'foster child,' covering both current foster children under 18 and former foster youth up to age 26 who had Medicaid at 18.
- Subsection (b) requires the transfer from managed care to fee-for-service Medicaid at contract expiration or renewal, or earlier if the contract allows.
- Subsection (c) requires the department to file any needed Medicaid state plan amendments with the federal Department of Health and Human Services.
- Subsection (d) automatically repeals the section on December 31, 2028.
- Section 2 sets the effective date as the date the Governor signs the bill or it otherwise becomes law.
From the bill
“the department shall transfer all medical assistance coverage for foster children from the care management organization to the fee-for-service Medicaid program”
“This Code section shall stand repealed on December 31, 2028.”
Discussed in meetings (5)
The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.
House Health Committee, February 2, 2026
From 1:05:49 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1002 would move Medicaid coverage for foster children and certain young adults up to age 26 from managed care to direct fee-for-service payment. The sponsor described delayed approvals for beds, dental care and other services, and said the change would take effect at contract expiration or renewal, or earlier if permitted. The sponsor acknowledged substantial administrative work for the state. A foster-parent witness, also a former legislator and policy official, supported the change. The witness described paying personally for a child's therapy after Amerigroup denied additional treatment and argued that frequent placements, changing doctors and complex needs made managed care a poor fit. Asked about transition risks and scheduling burdens, the witness said fee-for-service Medicaid already existed and could reduce time spent contesting denials, while acknowledging possible added costs. Another member asked whether rebidding the contract could solve the problems. The witness criticized both the current provider and the managed-care model. A further member questioned costs and provider access. The chair said fee-for-service payments could be higher because these patients require more time and services; the witness said the change could broaden provider access. No vote was taken. The chair requested a fiscal note before further discussion.
House Health Committee, February 18, 2026
From 0:22:51 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1002 would move foster children's Medicaid coverage from managed care to fee-for-service when contracts expire or renew, or earlier if permitted, to reduce treatment delays. Members questioned costs, continuity, a 2029 sunset and how access would improve. The sponsor expected existing providers to remain available. The human services commissioner cited a 2020 estimate of nearly $9 million in added costs, but said the foster population had declined and the agency already paid for care Medicaid should cover. A supporting witness attributed unmet treatment needs to managed-care barriers, citing Children's Healthcare of Atlanta findings of 60% missing recommended follow-up care and over 96% obtaining care with direct assistance. Department of Community Health officials took no position. They clarified that enrolled Medicaid providers, medical necessity reviews, prior approvals and appeals would remain, while managed-care coordination and extra benefits would end. Officials disputed claims about provider rates and corrected the chair's claim that non-Medicaid providers could participate without enrolling. Officials reported screening performance improving from 78% to roughly 82% against an 80% standard and warned of possible procurement effects. The sponsor and officials gave conflicting population figures. An updated cost estimate remained pending. The committee approved the bill with opposition, without a clear vote count.
Status timeline
- House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Beth Camp (R, HD-135)
- Matt Hatchett (R, HD-155)
Topics
- foster care
- Medicaid
- managed care
- child welfare
- health coverage