HB 352: Georgia Gestational Diabetes Management Act; enact

Georgia's Medicaid program already covers continuous glucose monitors for some people with diabetes, but only if they meet certain criteria, such as taking daily insulin or having a history of dangerous low blood sugar episodes. This bill, known as the Georgia Gestational Diabetes Management Act, adds a new qualifying condition: having gestational diabetes, a form of diabetes that develops during pregnancy. The bill amends Georgia's Medicaid statute (O.C.G.A. § 49-4-159.4) so that a Medicaid recipient can qualify for a continuous glucose monitor simply by having gestational diabetes, alongside the existing options of daily insulin use or a documented history of problematic hypoglycemia. It also updates the coverage start date referenced in the law from July 1, 2023 to July 1, 2025. The recipient must still be diagnosed by a treating practitioner and show sufficient training in using the device.

• Adds gestational diabetes as a qualifying condition for Medicaid coverage of continuous glucose monitors, without requiring daily insulin use or a hypoglycemia history.
• Updates the effective date in the Medicaid coverage statute (O.C.G.A. § 49-4-159.4) from July 1, 2023 to July 1, 2025.
• Keeps existing requirements that a treating practitioner diagnose the recipient with diabetes and confirm adequate training in using the monitor.
• Preserves the existing coverage paths for recipients on daily insulin or with a documented history of severe low blood sugar events.

Pregnant Georgians on Medicaid who are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, along with the treating practitioners who diagnose and prescribe for them, and the Georgia Department of Community Health, which administers Medicaid coverage rules for continuous glucose monitors.

Pregnant Medicaid recipients with gestational diabetes who previously did not qualify for coverage of a continuous glucose monitor because they were not on daily insulin or did not have a history of severe hypoglycemia could now get the device covered, potentially helping them track blood sugar during pregnancy.

• Section 1 names the bill 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 alongside daily insulin use and problematic hypoglycemia history.
• Section 2 retains the requirement that a treating practitioner diagnose diabetes mellitus and confirm training in using the monitor before coverage applies.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-07-01Effective Date
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-34)Primary sponsor
• Sharon Cooper (R, HD-45)
• Danny Mathis (R, HD-133)
• Darlene Taylor (R, HD-173)
• Tremaine Teddy Reese (D, HD-140)
• Carter Barrett (R, HD-24)
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-32)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 24, 2025

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

   PASSAGE: House Vote #71

2. PassedSenate voteApril 4, 2025

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

   PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE: Senate Vote #462

3. PassedHouse voteApril 4, 2025

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

   Agree to Senate Substitute: House Vote #452

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