Georgia Workers Comp Reform HB1119
Business Insurance – Online Article – February 3, 2026
A newly introduced bill in Georgia could significantly reshape how injured workers receive prescription medications under the state’s workers’ compensation system.
House Bill 1119 (HB 1119) proposes major changes to prescribing, dispensing, and reimbursement rules. If passed, the law would take effect on January 1, 2027, and repeal conflicting provisions in existing statutes.
For injured workers, healthcare providers, and employers, this legislation could have long-term implications for access, affordability, and quality of care.
HB 1119 would revise Georgia’s workers’ compensation laws to:
Allow employers to direct prescription care through contracted pharmacy management networks, or
Permit injured workers to use pharmacies and dispensing providers of their choice
The bill also introduces strict standards for how medications are prescribed, approved, and reimbursed.
Under the proposed legislation, providers would face additional documentation and authorization requirements.
Prescribers would be required to:
Document medical necessity for medications
Obtain prior authorization for:
Compounded drugs
Off-label prescriptions
This aims to reduce unnecessary prescribing and control escalating drug costs.
HB 1119 would also cap medication quantities:
Most prescriptions: 30-day supply
Compounded medications: Approved up to 90 days, dispensed in 30-day increments
First 7 days after injury:
Schedule II & III drugs: 5-day supply
All other medications: 14-day supply
These limits are designed to promote early monitoring and safer medication use.
A major feature of the bill is the formal regulation of pharmacy management networks.
To operate in Georgia, networks would need to:
Register with the state
Pay licensing fees
Meet operational standards
Comply with rules on:
Provider access
Reimbursement
Dispute resolution
Mail-order services
Networks meeting these requirements would be exempt from some regulations that currently apply to pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and third-party administrators.
Employers who use pharmacy management networks would be required to:
Inform injured workers about network rules
Disclose participating pharmacies and providers
Clearly communicate medication access policies
This provision is meant to improve transparency and reduce confusion for injured workers navigating their benefits.
Under HB 1119:
Medication reimbursement would be tied to Georgia’s workers’ compensation fee schedule
State officials would gain authority to issue new rules to implement the law
This could standardize payments but may also reduce flexibility for pharmacies and providers serving complex cases.
If enacted, HB 1119 could have both positive and negative effects.
For injured workers managing chronic pain or long-term conditions, these changes may affect continuity of care.
Healthcare providers and pharmacies will likely face:
Higher administrative workloads
More documentation requirements
Increased scrutiny of prescribing patterns
Potential reimbursement pressure
Independent and specialty pharmacies serving workers’ compensation patients may be especially impacted.
At RescueMeds, we believe that injured workers deserve:
Timely access to medically necessary prescriptions
Transparent reimbursement practices
Freedom from unnecessary administrative barriers
While cost control is important, reforms must not come at the expense of patient outcomes. Policies like HB 1119 should be evaluated carefully to ensure they balance fiscal responsibility with patient-centered care.
If approved, HB 1119 would take effect on January 1, 2027.
Between now and then, stakeholders—including injured workers, employers, healthcare providers, and pharmacies—will have opportunities to engage in the rulemaking process.
Staying informed and involved will be critical.
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