State Overview: Georgia

Prior authorization requirements are up to the discretion of the state Medicaid program or insurance company.

Diagnostic ability is outlined in statute.  

Professional counselors utilize counseling and psychotherapy to evaluate, diagnose, treat, and recommend a course of treatment for emotional and mental problems and conditions. The LPC must have training and experience working with people with mental illness, developmental disability, or substance abuse. Ga. Code §43-10A-3

Physician relationship required for practice and prescriptive authority.

A written protocol is required between the NM and the supervising physician. The protocol specifies medical acts delegated by the physician and provides for immediate consultation with the physician. An NM may prescribe Schedules III-V controlled substances if the NM is authorized to prescribe and has submitted the written protocol with the supervising physician. Ga. Code §43-34-25; Ga. Rules & Regs. §410-11-.14

Physician relationship required for practice and prescriptive authority.

A written protocol is required between the NP and the supervising physician. The protocol specifies medical acts delegated by the physician and provides for immediate consultation with the physician. An NP may prescribe Schedules III-V controlled substances and certain Schedule II (hydrocodone, oxycodone or compounds thereof) if the NP is authorized to prescribe and has submitted the written protocol with the supervising physician. Ga. Code §43-34-25; Ga. Rules & Regs. §410-11-.14

Only physicians may sign POLST forms. Ga. Code §31-1-14

NPs are not explicitly recognized in state policy as primary care providers.

Physician relationship required for practice authority; no prescriptive authority.

A written protocol is required between the CRNA and the supervising physician. The protocol specifies medical acts delegated by the physician and provides for immediate consultation with the physician. Ga. Code §43-26-11.1

Georgia does not explicitly allow for CRNA prescriptive authority.

Optometrists may perform procedures related to foreign body removal, including lumps and bumps, and the examination, evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of the human eye. Ga. Code Ann. § 43-30-1(2)(a)

Optometrists may administer all pharmaceutical agents for the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases, including epinephrine auto-injections to counter anaphylaxis. Ga. Code Ann. § 43-30-1(2)(C)

Optometrists may prescribe Schedule III-V controlled substances and also Schedule II hydrocodone or hydrocodone combination medications. Ga. Code Ann. § 43-30(2)(D)

Dental hygienists may practice outside the dental office in certain settings such as schools, nursing homes, hospitals, long-term care facilities, rural health clinics, federally qualified health centers, among others. The dental hygienist must practice under general supervision, meaning the dentist does not need to present for services to be rendered. Ga. Code §43-11-74.

Statute does not identify dental therapists as an oral health provider.

Georgia has not enacted legislation allowing pharmacists to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. However, the federal PREP Act allowed pharmacists to administer the COVID-19 vaccine through the duration of the public health emergency.

Georgia does not allow pharmacists to modify prescriptions.

Georgia does not allow pharmacists to prescribe hormonal contraceptives.

Georgia does not allow pharmacists to prescribe tobacco cessation aids.

Supervision by a physician required for practice and prescriptive authority.

"Physician assistant" means a skilled person who is licensed to a supervising physician and who is qualified by the academic and practical training to provide patients' services not necessarily within the physical presence but under the personal direction or supervision of the supervising physician. Ga. Code Ann. § 43-34-102(7)

A physician may delegate to a PA the authority to order controlled substances selected from a formulary of such drugs established by the board and the authority to order dangerous drugs, medical treatments and diagnostic studies. Ga. Code Ann. § 43-34-103(e),(e.1)-(e.2)

Statute limits the number of PAs a physician may supervise.

No primary supervising physician shall enter into a job description with or supervise more than eight PAs at a time. Ga. Code Ann. § 43-34-103(b)(1),(3),(4)

Chart co-signatures may be determined at the practice level.

The supervising physician shall periodically review patient records. Such review may be achieved with a sampling of such records as determined by the supervising physician. Ga. Code Ann. § 43-34-103(e.1)(6)(B)

Statute allows adaptable proximity.

"Physician assistant" means a skilled person who is licensed to a supervising physician and who is qualified by the academic and practical training to provide patients' services not necessarily within the physical presence but under the personal direction or supervision of the supervising physician. Ga. Code Ann. § 43-34-102(7)

A job description document must be signed by the supervising physician and the PA, and the document delegates the tasks a PA may perform. The activities must be within the supervising physician's scope of practice and be approved by the State Medical Board. Ga. Code §43-34-105