Georgia

Quick Facts

Key Provisions

• A Direct Primary Care agreement is explicitly defined as not being insurance and is not subject to regulation under Georgia's insurance laws (OCGA § 33-7-2.1).
• Providers are not required to obtain any special certificate of authority or license beyond maintaining a current license to practice medicine in Georgia.
• The law applies specifically to physicians (MDs/DOs) and their medical practices; it does not explicitly extend to other provider types like Nurse Practitioners or Physician Assistants operating independently.
• All DPC arrangements must be documented in a written agreement that clearly describes the scope of healthcare services covered by the periodic fee.
• The agreement must contain a prominent statement, in writing, clarifying that the DPC agreement does not constitute a health insurance policy.
• The contract must include the physician's full name, practice address, Georgia state medical license number, and DEA license number.
• Either the patient or the physician may terminate the agreement at any time, for any reason, by providing 30 days' written notice to the other party.
• Upon termination of the agreement, the physician is required to refund a pro-rated portion of any periodic fees that were paid in advance for services not yet provided.

Medication Dispensing

Georgia's DPC law requires that the physician's DEA license number be included in the patient agreement, acknowledging the role of medication management in primary care. However, the statute does not create special dispensing rules or exemptions for DPC practices. DPC physicians who dispense medications from their offices must comply with all general state and federal laws governing physician dispensing, as regulated by the Georgia Composite Medical Board and the Georgia Board of Pharmacy. This includes adherence to all standard requirements for labeling, storage, record-keeping, and limitations on the types and quantities of drugs that can be dispensed directly to patients.