---
title: HB 1119. Labor and industrial relations; pharmacy care guidelines and pharmacy management networks under workers' compensation; provide
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb1119
cite_as: HB 1119, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1119
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1119.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1119/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72673
date: 2026-02-05
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1118.md
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 179
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1119.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 1119
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-02-02
last_action: House Withdrawn, Recommitted
sponsors:
- Kasey Carpenter
- Josh Bonner
- Joseph Gullett
- Bill Yearta
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB1119/2025
upstream_id: 2104397
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- workers' compensation
- pharmacy benefits
- prescription drug rules
- injured workers
- healthcare regulation
---
# HB 1119. Labor and industrial relations; pharmacy care guidelines and pharmacy management networks under workers' compensation; provide
## Text
House Bill 1119
By: Representatives Carpenter of the 4th, Bonner of the 73rd, Stephens of the 164th, Gullett
of the 19th, and Yearta of the 152nd
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 9 of Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
workers' compensation, so as to provide for pharmacy care guidelines and pharmacy
management networks under workers' compensation; to provide limitations for providers
prescribing certain medications; to provide for limitations for providers dispensing certain
medications; to provide for reimbursement; to provide for pharmacy management networks;
to provide for notice; to provide for any willing dispensing provider to join a network; to
provide for registration; to provide for a registration fee; to provide for requirements; to
provide for exemption; to provide for definitions; to provide for rules and regulations; to
provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and
for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Chapter 9 of Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to workers'
compensation, is amended in Part 1 of Article 6, relating to medical attention for payment
of compensation, by adding new Code sections to read as follows:
"34-9-201.1.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) 'Compounded medication' means a custom made prescription drug prepared by a
pharmacist or dispensing provider by mixing or altering ingredients to fit a patient's
unique needs.
(2) 'Dispensing provider' means an individual who is a licensed pharmacist or licensed
physician.
(3) 'Off-label medication' means a prescription drug used for a condition, age group,
dosage, or route not listed in its official label.
(4) 'Pharmacy care' means those services related to the interpretation, evaluation, or
dispensing of prescription drug orders; the participation in drug and device selection,
drug administration, and drug regimen reviews; and the provision of related patient
counseling.
(5) 'Pharmacy management network' means a group or groups of participating dispensing
providers contracted by an employer to provide pharmacy care to injured workers
receiving benefits under workers' compensation.
(b) An employer may provide pharmacy care to injured employees receiving benefits
under workers' compensation through a pharmacy management network or through such
employee's choice of pharmacy or dispensing provider.
(c) Any prescribing provider providing pharmacy care to an injured employee applying
for or receiving benefits under workers' compensation shall prescribe medications in
accordance with the provisions of this chapter and board rules. Such provider shall:
(1) Document medical necessity, obtain prior authorization, and be limited to prescribing
a 30 day supply for any off-label medication; and
(2) Document consideration of commercially available drugs that are approved by the
federal Food and Dug Administration and medical reasons for any compounded
medication, obtain prior authorization for such medication, and be limited to prescribing
a 90 day supply total to be provided in 30 day supply increments for such medication.
(d) Any dispensing provider providing pharmacy care to an injured employee applying for
or receiving workers' compensation benefits in the first seven days following the date of
injury shall dispense medications in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and
board rules. Dispensing shall be limited to:
(1) A single five-day supply for Schedule II and Schedule III drugs; and
(2) A single 14 day supply for all other medications.
(e) Reimbursement for a dispensing provider shall be in accordance with the fee schedule
established by the board; provided, however, that dispensing providers contracted with a
pharmacy management network shall not be subject to the limitations or reimbursement
standards provided in this Code section and may dispense medications to injured
employees based on the provisions in the pharmacy management network contract.
(f) The board is authorized to promulgate rules necessary for the administration of this
Code section.
34-9-201.2.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) 'Dispensing provider' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code
Section 34-9-201.1.
(2) 'Pharmacy care' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 34-9-201.1.
(3) 'Pharmacy management network' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code
Section 34-9-201.1.
(b) An employer may establish or contract with a pharmacy management network to
provide pharmacy care to injured employees receiving benefits under workers'
compensation; provided, however, that, if such employer requires such care to be provided
exclusively through such network, such employer shall provide notice as follows:
(1) When the pharmacy management network is first established, the employer shall
provide notice to all employees, either by posting in a prominent location in the
workplace or by providing in paper or electronic format, information about and processes
for filling a prescription through such network; and
(2) When a reported injury occurs, the employer shall provide notice to the employee,
either by providing in paper or electronic format, information about the requirements to
use such network and information on dispensing providers participating in such network.
(c) If an employer complies with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Code section, any
injured employee can obtain medications that are medically necessary, compliant with
pharmacy care guidelines provided for in Code Section 34-9-201.1, and related to a
compensable claim from his or her choice of dispensing provider or a dispensing provider
participating in the pharmacy management network; provided, however, that, if such
medications are obtained from a dispensing provider that is not part of such network, they
shall be reimbursed at the fee schedule amount established by the board until such
dispensing provider is provided notice by the employer or the pharmacy management
network that:
(1) The injured employee is required to obtain pharmacy care through a dispensing
provider participating in the pharmacy management network;
(2) Future pharmacy care through such dispensing provider shall not be reimbursed; and
(3) The dispensing provider is invited to join such network, provided that such network
shall accept as part of the network any dispensing provider that is licensed, in good
standing, and willing to contract with such network and abide by the contract terms with
such network.
(d) Any pharmacy management networks providing pharmacy care for injured employees
pursuant to this Code section shall register with the board and pay a licensing fee in an
amount established by the board sufficient to cover administration of the provisions of this
Code section.
(e) A pharmacy management network shall:
(1) Provide a timely process for participating dispensing providers to dispute a denial or
the amount of reimbursement of a pharmacy bill;
(2) Reimburse participating dispensing providers promptly but may contract for
reimbursement amounts different from the fee schedule amount established by the board;
(3) Not charge participating dispensing providers any fees, direct or indirect, associated
with dispensing, processing, or billing for a prescription drug dispensed to an injured
employee or any fee related to the enrollment or annual reenrollment of a participating
dispensing provider in such network;
(4) Offer a mail order option for injured employees to obtain medications;
(5) Perform any audits of dispensing providers in accordance with the audit provisions
in Code Section 26-4-118, 'The Pharmacy Audit Bill of Rights'; and
(6) Reimburse pharmacy processing agents or third-party billers accepting assignment
of bills from participating dispensing providers at the contractual amount agreed upon
with the assigning dispensing provider.
(f) For claims that are controverted or being disputed for compensability, any injured
employee shall not be required to use a dispensing provider in the pharmacy management
network until such time as compensability is established and notice of compensability is
provided to such employee.
(g) Registered pharmacy management networks providing pharmacy care under this Code
section are exempt from the provisions of Article 2 of Chapter 23 of Title 33, relating to
licensing of administrators, and the provisions of Chapter 64 of Title 33, relating to the
regulation and licensure of pharmacy benefit managers.
(h) The board is authorized to promulgate rules necessary for the administration of this
Code section."
SECTION 2.
This Act shall become effective on January 1, 2027.
SECTION 3.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
## Summaries written by Georgia Commons
The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.
A Georgia House bill would set new rules for how injured workers get prescription medications under workers' compensation, limiting off-label and compounded drug prescriptions and letting employers require care through approved pharmacy networks.
### Plain-language summary
Georgia's workers' compensation system currently has no specific state law governing how doctors prescribe medications or how pharmacies dispense them to injured workers. This bill adds two new sections to the workers' compensation code addressing pharmacy care.
It limits prescribing providers to a 30 day supply of off-label medications and a 90 day supply (in 30 day increments) of compounded medications, each requiring documentation of medical necessity and prior authorization. In the first seven days after an injury, dispensing providers can give only a 5 day supply of Schedule II or III drugs or a 14 day supply of other medications, unless they are part of a pharmacy management network, which follows its own contract terms instead. The bill also lets employers set up or contract with pharmacy management networks, requires notice to employees about how those networks work, requires networks to register with the State Board of Workers' Compensation and pay a fee, and sets rules networks must follow, such as prompt reimbursement and a dispute process. The law would take effect January 1, 2027.
### What it does
- Limits prescribing providers to a 30 day supply of off-label medications and requires proof of medical necessity and prior authorization.
- Caps compounded medication prescriptions at a 90 day total supply given in 30 day increments, with documentation and prior authorization required.
- Limits dispensing providers to a 5 day supply of Schedule II or III drugs or a 14 day supply of other medications during the first week after an injury.
- Allows employers to create or contract with pharmacy management networks and requires them to notify workers about how to use these networks.
- Requires pharmacy management networks to register with the State Board of Workers' Compensation, pay a fee, and follow rules like prompt reimbursement and a claims dispute process.
- Exempts registered pharmacy management networks from Georgia's laws on administrator licensing and pharmacy benefit manager regulation.
### Who it affects
Injured employees receiving workers' compensation benefits, doctors and pharmacists who prescribe or dispense their medications, employers who manage workers' compensation claims, and pharmacy management networks that contract with employers to provide drug benefits.
### Why it matters
Injured workers could see limits on how much medication they can initially receive and might be steered toward specific pharmacy networks chosen by their employer, while doctors and pharmacists would face new documentation and supply limits for certain prescriptions, changing how quickly and where workers can fill prescriptions.
### Key provisions
- New Code Section 34-9-201.1 defines terms like 'compounded medication,' 'off-label medication,' and 'pharmacy management network' and sets prescribing and dispensing limits.
- Subsection (c) requires prescribers to document medical necessity and get prior authorization before prescribing off-label or compounded drugs, with specific day-supply caps.
- Subsection (d) limits early dispensing (within 7 days of injury) to 5 days for Schedule II/III drugs or 14 days for other medications, unless the provider is in a pharmacy management network.
- New Code Section 34-9-201.2 lets employers require pharmacy care exclusively through a network if they give proper notice to employees.
- Subsection (c) requires reimbursement at the board's fee schedule for out-of-network providers until formal notice of network requirements is given.
- Subsection (d) requires pharmacy management networks to register with the State Board of Workers' Compensation and pay a licensing fee.
- Subsection (e) lists network obligations, including prompt reimbursement, a dispute process, no added fees to providers, and a mail order option.
- Section 2 sets the effective date as January 1, 2027.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2026-02-02)
- Last action: House Withdrawn, Recommitted (2026-02-05)
- Sponsors: Kasey Carpenter, Josh Bonner, Joseph Gullett, Bill Yearta
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72673
> The history, votes, and amendments (179 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1119.md?full=1