---
title: HB 1122. Insurance; group or individual accident and sickness plans; provisions
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb1122
cite_as: HB 1122, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1122
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1122.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1122/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72676
date: 2026-03-09
status: engrossed
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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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 617
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1122.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 1122
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-03-06
last_action: Senate Read and Referred
sponsors:
- Demetrius Douglas
- Mark Newton
- Carolyn Hugley
- Lee Hawkins
- Karlton Howard
text_version: Comm Sub
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB1122/2025
upstream_id: 2104379
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- health insurance coverage
- peripheral artery disease
- Medicaid benefits
- state employee health plan
- preventive screening
---
# HB 1122. Insurance; group or individual accident and sickness plans; provisions
## Text
House Bill 1122 (COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE)
By: Representatives Douglas of the 78th, Newton of the 127th, Hugley of the 141st, Hawkins
of the 27th, and Howard of the 129th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 1 of Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
relating to general provisions regarding insurance generally, so as to require certain benefits
for peripheral artery disease screening tests for enrollees enrolled in health benefit policies;
to provide for definitions; to provide for exceptions; to amend Chapter 18 of Title 45 of the
Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to employees' insurance and benefits plans, so
as to require certain benefits for peripheral artery disease screening tests; to amend Article
7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical
assistance generally, so as to require certain benefits for peripheral artery disease screening
tests; to provide for a plan amendment when necessary; to provide for legislative findings;
to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for effective dates and
applicability contingent upon appropriations by the General Assembly; to repeal conflicting
laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
The General Assembly finds that:
(1) Atherosclerosis occurs when blood flow is reduced because arteries become
narrowed or blocked with fatty deposits;
(2) Atherosclerosis is responsible for more deaths in the United States than any other
condition, and heart attacks resulting from clogged coronary arteries are the leading cause
of death in America;
(3) Atherosclerosis also occurs in the legs and is known as peripheral artery disease
(PAD),and having PAD significantly increases the risk for heart attack, stroke,
amputation, and death;
(4) While most Americans are aware of atherosclerosis in the heart, many Americans
have never heard of PAD, and Americans with PAD are often unaware of the serious
risks of the disease;
(5) An estimated 21 million Americans have PAD, and about 200,000 of them, who are
disproportionately minorities, suffer avoidable amputations every year as a result of such
disease;
(6) Screening and arterial testing for PAD is cost effective and should be part of routine
medical care; and
(7) Once PAD is detected, amputations and deaths can be reduced through the use of
national, evidence based PAD care guidelines.
SECTION 2.
Article 1 of Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
general provisions regarding insurance generally, is amended by adding a new Code section
to read as follows:
"33-24-59.37.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) 'At-risk individual' means an individual who:
(A) Is 65 years of age or older;
(B) Is at least 50 years of age but not older than 64 years of age with risk factors for
atherosclerosis, such as diabetes mellitus, a history of smoking, hyperlipidemia,
hypertension, or a family history of peripheral artery disease;
(C) Is younger than 50 years of age with diabetes mellitus and one additional risk
factor as provided in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph for atherosclerosis; or
(D) Has a known atherosclerotic disease in another vascular bed, such as coronary,
carotid, subclavian, renal, or mesenteric artery stenosis, or abdominal aortic aneurysm.
(2) 'Health benefit policy' means any individual or group plan, policy, or contract for
healthcare services issued, delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this state which
provides major medical benefits by a healthcare corporation, health maintenance
organization, preferred provider organization, accident and sickness insurer, fraternal
benefit society, hospital service corporation, medical service corporation, or other insurer
or similar entity.
(3) 'Peripheral artery disease screening test' means:
(A) Noninvasive physiologic studies of extremity arteries, commonly referred to as
ankle-brachial index testing; or
(B) Ankle plethysmographic pulse volume recordings and Doppler waveforms.
(b) A health benefit policy amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1,
2027, shall provide coverage, no less than once every 12 months, for a peripheral artery
disease screening test for any at-risk individual.
(c) The benefits provided in this Code section shall be subject to the same deductibles,
coinsurance, copayment provisions, and other limitations established for all covered
benefits within such policy. Special deductibles, coinsurance, copayment, and other
limitations that are not generally applicable to other benefits shall not be applicable to the
benefits described in this Code section.
(d) This Code section shall not be applicable to self-funded, employer sponsored health
insurance plans subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, 29 U.S.C. Section 1001, et seq., as amended."
SECTION 3.
Chapter 18 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to employees'
insurance and benefits plans, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:
"45-18-4.3.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) 'At-risk individual' means an individual who:
(A) Is 65 years of age or older;
(B) Is at least 50 years of age but not older than 64 years of age with risk factors for
atherosclerosis, such as diabetes mellitus, a history of smoking, hyperlipidemia, or
hypertension, or a family history of peripheral artery disease;
(C) Is younger than 50 years of age with diabetes mellitus and one additional risk
factor as provided in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph for atherosclerosis; or
(D) Has a known atherosclerotic disease in another vascular bed, such as coronary,
carotid, subclavian, renal, or mesenteric artery stenosis, or abdominal aortic aneurysm.
(2) 'Peripheral artery disease screening test' means:
(A) Noninvasive physiologic studies of extremity arteries, commonly referred to as
ankle-brachial index testing; or
(B) Ankle plethysmographic pulse volume recordings and Doppler waveforms.
(b) The health insurance plan established pursuant to this article shall provide benefits for
an enrollee which shall include coverage, no less than once every 12 months, for a
peripheral artery disease screening test for at-risk individuals.
(c) The benefits provided in this Code section shall be subject to the same deductibles,
coinsurance, copayment provisions, and other limitations established for all covered
benefits within such plan. Special deductibles, coinsurance, copayment, and other
limitations that are not generally applicable to other benefits shall not be applicable to the
benefits described in this Code section."
SECTION 4.
Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
medical assistance generally, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:
"49-4-159.5.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) 'At-risk individual' means an individual who:
(A) Is 65 years of age or older;
(B) Is at least 50 years of age but not older than 64 years of age with risk factors for
atherosclerosis, such as diabetes mellitus, a history of smoking, hyperlipidemia, or
hypertension, or a family history of peripheral artery disease;
(C) Is younger than 50 years of age with diabetes mellitus and one additional risk
factor as provided in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph for atherosclerosis; or
(D) Has a known atherosclerotic disease in another vascular bed, such as coronary,
carotid, subclavian, renal, or mesenteric artery stenosis, or abdominal aortic aneurysm.
(2) 'Peripheral artery disease screening test' means:
(A) Noninvasive physiologic studies of extremity arteries, commonly referred to as
ankle-brachial index testing; or
(B) Ankle plethysmographic pulse volume recordings and Doppler waveforms.
(b) The department shall provide Medicaid recipients with peripheral artery disease
screening tests for at-risk individuals no less than once every 12 months.
(c) To implement the provisions of this Code section, the department shall, when
necessary, submit a Medicaid state plan amendment or waiver request to the United States
Department of Health and Human Services."
SECTION 5.
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, this Act shall become effective on
January 1, 2027, and shall apply to the state health benefit plan, the state Medicaid plan,
and all health benefit policies or contracts issued, delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed
in this state on or after such date.
(b)(1) Section 3 of this Act shall become effective only if funds are specifically
appropriated for purposes of Section 3 of this Act in an appropriations Act enacted by the
General Assembly. If funds are appropriated as described in this paragraph, then
Section 3 of this Act shall become effective on the later of:
(A) The date on which such appropriations Act becomes effective; or
(B) The beginning date of the fiscal year for which such appropriations are made.
(2) Section 4 of this Act shall become effective only if funds are specifically
appropriated for purposes of Section 4 of this Act in an appropriations Act enacted by the
General Assembly. If funds are so appropriated as described in this paragraph, then
Section 4 of this Act shall become effective on the later of:
(A) The date on which such appropriations Act becomes effective; or
(B) The beginning date of the fiscal year for which such appropriations are made.
(3) This section and Section 6 of this Act shall become effective on July 1, 2026.
SECTION 6.
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.
House Bill 1122 would require Georgia health insurance plans, the state health benefit plan, and Medicaid to cover peripheral artery disease screening tests once a year for people at higher risk of the disease.
### Plain-language summary
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a form of atherosclerosis that narrows arteries in the legs and raises the risk of heart attack, stroke, amputation, and death. Many people at risk are never screened for it. This bill adds new sections to Georgia law requiring health benefit policies, the state employee health plan, and Medicaid to cover a PAD screening test, such as ankle-brachial index testing, at least once every 12 months for defined 'at-risk individuals,' including people 65 or older and younger people with diabetes or other risk factors.
The coverage requirement for private and individual health benefit policies takes effect January 1, 2027, and applies to policies issued or renewed on or after that date, but does not apply to self-funded employer plans governed by federal law. The state employee plan and Medicaid coverage requirements only take effect if the General Assembly specifically appropriates funding for them in a future budget act.
### What it does
- Requires health benefit policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2027 to cover a peripheral artery disease screening test at least once every 12 months for at-risk individuals.
- Defines 'at-risk individual' by age and risk factors such as diabetes, smoking history, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or family history of the disease.
- Exempts self-funded employer health plans governed by federal law (ERISA) from the new coverage requirement.
- Adds the same screening coverage requirement to the state employee health benefit plan, but only if the General Assembly appropriates specific funding for it.
- Requires Georgia Medicaid to cover the same screening for at-risk recipients, but only if the General Assembly appropriates specific funding, and directs the state to seek federal approval if needed.
- Bars insurers from applying special deductibles or copays to this screening that are not applied to other covered benefits.
### Who it affects
People enrolled in private or group health insurance policies in Georgia, state government employees on the state health plan, Medicaid recipients, and insurers, health maintenance organizations, and other entities that issue health benefit policies in the state.
### Why it matters
People at risk of peripheral artery disease, especially older adults, people with diabetes, smokers, and those with high blood pressure or cholesterol, would gain guaranteed access to a low-cost screening test that can catch the disease before it leads to amputation, stroke, or death.
### Key provisions
- Section 1 lists legislative findings on how common and dangerous peripheral artery disease is, including that about 200,000 Americans suffer avoidable amputations from it yearly.
- Section 2 adds Code Section 33-24-59.37 requiring most health benefit policies to cover PAD screening tests yearly for at-risk individuals starting January 1, 2027, excluding ERISA self-funded plans.
- Section 3 adds Code Section 45-18-4.3 requiring the state employee health plan to cover the same screening, effective only with a specific budget appropriation.
- Section 4 adds Code Section 49-4-159.5 requiring Medicaid to cover the screening for at-risk recipients, effective only with a specific budget appropriation, and requires a state plan amendment if needed.
- Section 5 sets the general effective date as January 1, 2027, but ties the state plan and Medicaid provisions to future appropriations acts.
- Section 6 repeals conflicting laws.
## Status
- Status: Engrossed (2026-03-06)
- Last action: Senate Read and Referred (2026-03-09)
- Sponsors: Demetrius Douglas, Mark Newton, Carolyn Hugley, Lee Hawkins, Karlton Howard
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72676
> The history, votes, and amendments (617 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1122.md?full=1