Urgent Insulin Safety Net Program Act; enact
HB897 would create the “Urgent Insulin Safety Net Program Act” within Georgia’s public assistance laws to provide short-term emergency access to insulin for eligible residents who are in urgent need. Under the program, a pharmacy would be required to dispense a 30-day supply of insulin to a qualifying individual who submits an application, proof of identity, and a valid prescription. The bill also allows one additional 30-day supply within a 12-month period for people who have applied for Medicaid, Georgia Medicaid, or PeachCare for Kids but have not yet been approved or whose coverage has not yet taken effect.
The bill defines key terms such as “urgent need of insulin,” “eligible individual,” and “manufacturer,” and sets eligibility limits for people who are not already enrolled in coverage that caps insulin cost-sharing at $75 or less for a 30-day supply. It also requires the Department of Community Health, in coordination with the State Board of Pharmacy, to create the application form, informational materials, and satisfaction surveys, and to post them online. Manufacturers would be required to establish procedures, a hotline, website information, and dedicated staff to support the program.
HB897 would amend Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated by adding a new article establishing a state-run insulin access program. It would impose new duties on pharmacies, the Department of Community Health, the State Board of Pharmacy, and insulin manufacturers, including dispensing requirements, reimbursement and replacement obligations, reporting requirements, and compliance procedures. The bill also creates enforcement mechanisms, including misdemeanor/felony penalties for fraud and substantial monthly administrative penalties for manufacturer noncompliance, and it sets a July 1, 2025 effective date.
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the bill appears to be framed as a consumer-access and public health measure intended to address urgent insulin shortages and affordability barriers. The overall tone of the legislation is remedial and supportive of patients needing immediate insulin access, while also ensuring pharmacies are reimbursed and manufacturers participate in the supply chain. No formal vote history or transcript evidence is available here to show organized opposition or support beyond the bill’s stated purpose.
The most likely points of contention are the mandatory obligations placed on insulin manufacturers, especially the requirement to reimburse pharmacies, replace dispensed insulin, maintain hotlines and dedicated personnel, and face escalating administrative penalties of up to $600,000 per month for noncompliance. Pharmacies may also view the program as operationally burdensome, though the bill does allow a copayment of up to $35 to offset processing and dispensing costs. Eligibility restrictions could also be debated, particularly the exclusion of individuals already enrolled in coverage with insulin cost-sharing of $75 or less and the requirement that applicants attest to urgent need and lack of recent program use.