---
title: O.C.G.A. § 33-64-8. Electronic prior authorization drug requests with health care providers.
collection: code
id: 33-64-8
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 33-64-8 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/33-64-8
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/33-64-8.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/33-64-8/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t33-ch23-65-(v25)-2020-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=68297_0#page=1099
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/33-64.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/33-64-7.md
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: INSURANCE / REGULATION AND LICENSURE OF PHARMACY BENEFITS MANAGERS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 33-64-8. Electronic prior authorization drug requests with health care providers.

(a) As used in this Code section, ‘‘electronic prior authorization’’ or ‘‘e-prior authorization’’ means a requirement that a prescriber obtain approval via electronic media from a health plan to prescribe a specific medication prior to dispensing. Facsimiles shall not be considered an electronic submission under this Code section except in the event that such electronic media is temporarily unavailable due to system failure or outage.

(b) No later than 24 months after the adoption of standards by the National Council of Prescription Drug Programs, the department shall under the direction of the Commissioner adopt standards by which the pharmacy benefits manager shall exchange standard e-prior authorization requests with health care providers for drugs and devices using electronic data interchange standards consistent with those adopted by the National Council of Prescription Drug Programs. Such standards shall support clinical workflow decision support of the physician provider.

(c) No later than 24 months after the adoption of standards by the National Council of Prescription Drug Programs, e-prior authorization requests shall be accessible and submitted by providers to pharmacy benefits managers and health plans through secure electronic transmissions utilizing the current National Council of Prescription Drug Programs electronic prior authorization standard.

(d) Nothing in this Code section shall require any health care provider to participate in e-prior authorization or electronic prior authorization in order to obtain the necessary authorization for patient care.

## History

Code 1981, § 33-64-8, enacted by Ga. L. 2012, p. 1134, § 1/SB 416.