HB988: HB988 State employees; require health benefit plan to cover hormone replacement therapy for biological women experiencing perimenopause and menopause when such therapy is ordered or prescribed

26 LC 52 0957 House Bill 988 By: Representatives Camp of the 135th, Jones of the 47th, Hagan of the 156th, Ballard of the 147th, New of the 40th, and others A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Article 1 of Chapter 18 of Title 45 of the Official Co de of Georgia Annotated,1 relating to the state employees' health insurance plan and post -employment health benefit2 fund, so as to require the state health benefit plan to cover hormone replacement therapy for3 biological women experiencing perimenopause and menopause when such therapy is 4 ordered or prescribed by a licensed physician; to provide for d efinitions; to allow for5 deductibles, coinsurance and copayment provisions, and utilizat ion review; to provide for6 related matters; to provide an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and7 for other purposes.8 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:9 SECTION 1.10 Article 1 of Chapter 18 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the11 state employees' health insurance plan and post-employment health benefit fund, is amended12 in Part 1, relating to state employees' health insurance plan, by adding a new Code section13 to read as follows:14 "45-18-4.3.15 (a) As used in this Code section, the term:16 H. B. 988 - 1 - 26 LC 52 0957 (1) 'Hormone replacement therapy' means a therapy, including t he administering of17 supplemental or replacement synthetic, biological, or bioidentical hormones, that partially18 replenishes the hormones that naturally diminish in biological women experiencing19 perimenopause and menopause, controls symptoms of perimenopause and menopause,20 or protects against diseases and conditions that biological wom en are more prone to21 experiencing after menopause.22 (2) 'State health benefit plan' means the health insurance pla n or plans authorized23 pursuant to this article, Subparts 2 and 3 of Part 6 of Article 17 of Chapter 2 of Title 20,24 and Code Sections 20-3-31, 20-3-51, and 31-2-4.25 (b) Beginning January 1, 2027, the state health benefit plan s hall include coverage for26 hormone replacement therapy for biological women experiencing p erimenopause and27 menopause when such therapy is ordered or prescribed by a licensed physician.28 (c) The benefits covered under this Code section shall be subject to the same deductibles,29 coinsurance or copayment provisions, and utilization review app licable to other similar30 covered benefits under the state health benefit plan."31 SECTION 2.32 This Act shall become effective July 1, 2026, and shall apply t o all policies or contracts33 issued, delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this state on or after such date.34 SECTION 3.35 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.36 H. B. 988 - 2 -