24 LC 54 0322
House Bill 1081
By: Representatives Taylor of the 173
rd
, Cooper of the 45
th
, Hatchett of the 155
th
, Silcox of
the 53
rd
, Mainor of the 56
th
, and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 12 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
1
control of hazardous conditions, preventable diseases, and metabolic disorders, so as to2
provide for mandatory preeclampsia biomarker testing for pregnant women during their first3
prenatal visit; to provide for a short title; to provide for definitions; to provide for additional4
testing when deemed necessary and ordered by an attending physician; to provide for how5
preeclampsia biomarker testing shall be conducted; to authorize the Department of Public6
Health to promulgate rules and regulations; to amend Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official7
Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance generally, so as to require health benefit8
policy coverage for preeclampsia biomarker testing for pregnant women during their first9
prenatal visit and as deemed necessary and ordered by an attending physician thereafter; to10
provide for conforming changes; to provide for an effective date; to amend Code Section11
49-4-159.3 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to biomarker testing for12
Medicaid recipients, so as to require preeclampsia biomarker testing coverage for pregnant13
women during their first prenatal visit and as deemed necessary and ordered by an attending14
physician thereafter; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other15
purposes.16
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:17
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SECTION 1.
18
Chapter 12 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to control of19
hazardous conditions, preventable diseases, and metabolic disorders, is amended by adding20
a new Code section to read as follows:21
"31-12-15.
22
(a) This Code section shall be known and may be cited as the 'Georgia Preeclampsia23
Biomarker Testing Act of 2024.'24
(b) As used in this Code section, the term:25
(1) 'Biomarker' means a characteristic that is objectively measured and evaluated as an26
indicator of normal biological processes, pathogenic processes, or pharmacologic27
responses to a specific therapeutic intervention. Such term includes, but is not limited to,28
gene mutations, protein expression, known gene-drug interactions for medications, and29
characteristics of genes.30
(2) 'Biomarker testing' means the analysis of a patient's tissue, blood, or other31
biospecimen for the presence of a biomarker. Such term includes, but is not limited to,32
single-analyte tests, multiplex panel tests, whole genome sequencing, protein expression,33
whole exome, and whole transcriptome.34
(3) 'Consensus statements' means statements developed by an independent,35
multidisciplinary panel of experts utilizing a transparent methodology and reporting36
structure and with a conflict-of-interest policy. Such statements are aimed at specific37
clinical circumstances and base the statements on the best available evidence for the38
purpose of optimizing the outcomes of clinical care.39
(4) 'Nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines' means evidence based clinical40
practice guidelines developed by independent organizations or medical professional41
societies utilizing a transparent methodology and reporting structure and with a42
conflict-of-interest policy. Such guidelines establish standards of care informed by a43
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systematic review of evidence and an assessment of the benefits and risks of alternative44
care options and include recommendations intended to optimize patient care.45
(c)(1) A pregnant woman shall be screened for preeclampsia using biomarker testing at46
the pregnant woman's first prenatal visit.47
(2) A pregnant woman may be screened for preeclampsia using biomarker testing at any48
other point during her pregnancy as deemed necessary and ordered by the attending49
physician in accordance with this Code section and the rules, regulations, and standards50
adopted and promulgated pursuant to this Code section.51
(3) Each preeclampsia biomarker test shall be conducted by the physician or other52
healthcare provider who is providing prenatal care for such pregnant woman according53
to nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines and consensus statements.54
(d) The department shall be authorized to promulgate rules and regulations for the purpose55
of administering the requirements under this Code section."56
SECTION 2.57
Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance58
generally, is amended in Code Section 33-24-24, relating to provision in group or blanket59
accident and sickness policies of coverage for complications of pregnancy, by revising60
subparagraph (a)(1)(A) as follows:61
"(A) Conditions requiring hospital confinement when the pregnancy is not terminated62
and whose diagnoses are distinct from pregnancy but are adversely affected by63
pregnancy or are caused by pregnancy, such as acute nephritis, nephrosis, cardiac64
decompensation, missed abortion, pre-eclampsia preeclampsia, intrauterine fetal growth65
retardation, and similar medical and surgical conditions of comparable severity; but the66
term shall not include false labor, occasional spotting, physician prescribed rest during67
the period of pregnancy, morning sickness, hyperemesis gravidarum, and similar68
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conditions associated with the management of a difficult pregnancy not constituting a
69
nosologically distinct complication of pregnancy; and"70
SECTION 3.71
Said chapter is further amended by revising subsection (b) of Code Section 33-24-59.33,72
relating to required coverage for biomarker testing, as follows:73
"(b)(1)
All health benefit policies renewed or issued on or after July 1, 2023, shall74
include coverage for biomarker testing as provided in this Code section.75
(2) All health benefit policies renewed or issued on or after July 1, 2024, shall include76
coverage for biomarker testing for preeclampsia as provided for in Code Section77
31-12-15 and this Code section."78
SECTION 4.79
Code Section 49-4-159.3 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to biomarker80
testing for Medicaid recipients, is amended by revising subsection (b) as follows:81
"(b) The department shall provide biomarker testing for Medicaid recipients in accordance82
with the requirements of Code Section 31-12-15 and this Code section."83
SECTION 5.84
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.85
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