Georgia CommonsHouse · Introduced · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HB 420: Insurance; require certain health benefit policies to cover genetic testing for an inherited mutation and cancer imaging under certain conditions
Last action April 4, 2025 · House Withdrawn, Recommitted
A Georgia House bill would require health insurance plans issued or renewed after July 1, 2025 to cover genetic testing for cancer-linked gene mutations and cancer imaging for high-risk patients when a doctor recommends it.
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 Comm Sub version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
Currently, Georgia law does not require health insurance plans to cover genetic testing for inherited cancer mutations or cancer imaging like MRIs or CT scans used to catch cancer early. This bill adds a new section to Georgia's insurance code (O.C.G.A. § 33-24-59.34) requiring most health benefit policies, including plans for state employees, teachers, and university system employees, to cover these services starting with policies issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2025. Coverage applies when a healthcare provider recommends the testing or imaging in line with nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines, and only for people with a personal or family history of cancer (for genetic testing) or an increased cancer risk (for imaging). Insurers can still apply normal cost-sharing like deductibles and copays. The bill also protects health savings account eligibility by limiting coverage requirements where needed to comply with federal tax rules, and it directs the state Insurance Commissioner to write implementing regulations.
What the bill does
- Requires health benefit policies issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2025 to cover genetic testing for inherited cancer-related gene mutations when recommended by a healthcare provider.
- Requires those same policies to cover cancer imaging for people at increased cancer risk when recommended by a healthcare provider.
- Limits the new coverage requirements to care that follows nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines developed by independent medical organizations.
- Allows insurers to still apply deductibles, copays, and coinsurance to this coverage rather than making it fully free.
- Protects health savings account eligibility by restricting how the mandate applies to high-deductible health plans under federal tax rules.
- Directs the state Insurance Commissioner to issue rules implementing the new coverage requirement.
Who it affects
People with a personal or family history of cancer or an increased cancer risk who need genetic testing or imaging, health insurers and self-insured plans operating in Georgia, state employees, public school teachers, university system employees, and the state Insurance Commissioner's office, which must write implementing rules.
Why it matters
Patients with a family history of cancer or elevated risk could get genetic testing and imaging covered by insurance rather than paying out of pocket, potentially allowing earlier detection. Insurers and employers offering these plans would face new coverage obligations, though patients would still owe any normal deductibles or copays.
Key provisions
- Section 1 adds new Code Section 33-24-59.34 defining 'cancer imaging,' 'genetic testing for an inherited mutation,' 'health benefit policy,' and 'nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines.'
- Subsection (b) requires covered policies renewed or issued on or after July 1, 2025 to cover genetic testing and cancer imaging when a provider recommends it and it follows recognized guidelines.
- Subsection (c) confirms the new coverage remains subject to a policy's normal cost-sharing requirements like deductibles and copays.
- Subsection (d) limits the mandate's application to protect health savings account eligibility under federal tax law, except for preventive care.
- Subsection (e) directs the Insurance Commissioner to adopt rules to implement the coverage requirement, referencing guidelines from groups like the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.
- Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.
From the bill
“All health benefit policies renewed or issued on or after July 1, 2025, shall include coverage for:”
“'Genetic testing for an inherited mutation' means germline multi-gene testing for an inherited mutation or pathogenic variants in an individual's genes that are associated with an increased risk of cancer.”
“The coverage provided for in subsection (b) of this Code section shall be subject to any cost-sharing requirement of a covered person's health benefit policy.”
Discussed in meetings (2)
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 Rules Committee, March 9, 2026
From 0:27:41 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The chair announced HB 420 during calendar setting, and a motion received a second and passed without voiced opposition. Another speaker then corrected the identification to SB 420, which the chair confirmed. The exchange therefore does not establish a separate calendar placement for HB 420. Its substance was not discussed.
Status timeline
- House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Darlene Taylor (R, HD-173)
- Lee Hawkins (R, HD-27)
- Katie Dempsey (R, HD-13)
- Karen Mathiak (R, HD-82)
- Patty Marie Stinson (D, HD-150)
- Angie O'Steen (R, HD-169)
Topics
- health insurance coverage
- cancer screening
- genetic testing
- insurance regulation
- cancer imaging