A new Georgia law limits how long insurers can delay credentialing approvals—and it matters more than you might think.
Most child care business owners don't realize that health insurance credentialing delays can affect their ability to bill and collect payment. A provision buried in Georgia's SB440 changes that—and the timeline matters for your planning.
Under Section 2-1 of SB440 (Code Section 33-24-37(b)), health insurers in Georgia will be required to approve or deny credentialing applications within 45 days, effective July 1, 2026. Right now, there's no legal deadline. Credentialing—the process insurers use to verify a provider's qualifications before allowing billing—can drag on indefinitely, blocking reimbursement and cash flow.
The 45-day cap applies to initial credentialing applications. If an insurer doesn't act within that window, the application moves forward. This is a hard deadline, not a suggestion.
This provision directly impacts small healthcare providers and clinics that bill insurance—including child care facilities that employ nurses, therapists, or other licensed practitioners who need to be credentialed to bill insurers for services. If your business relies on insurance reimbursement for any health-related services, this affects your revenue cycle.
Solo practitioners and very small operations are hit hardest by credentialing delays today because they lack dedicated billing staff to chase down insurers. This rule levels the playing field.
July 1, 2026: The 45-day approval requirement takes effect. Insurers must meet this deadline or face consequences under state law.
July 1, 2027: A standardized credentialing application form becomes mandatory (Section 33-24-37(d)). This second deadline means insurers can't use proprietary or unnecessarily complex forms to slow down the process. A uniform application should further reduce processing time and confusion.
If your child care business bills insurance for any services, audit your current credentialing status with each insurer you work with. Document how long applications have taken in the past. Starting July 1, 2026, you'll have a legal right to expect faster action—and you should track whether insurers comply.
When you submit new credentialing applications after July 1, 2026, reference the 45-day requirement if an insurer delays. Keep copies of submission dates and follow-up correspondence.
The standardized form requirement (effective July 1, 2027) should simplify reapplications and credentialing for new practitioners you hire. Watch for the state-approved form and use it when available.
SB440's credentialing provision removes a major source of cash-flow friction for small providers. It won't solve all billing headaches, but it does guarantee that insurers can't leave your applications in limbo indefinitely. For child care businesses that depend on timely insurance reimbursement, that's meaningful.
Source: SB440, Section 2-1, Code Section 33-24-37(b) and (d); effective dates July 1, 2026 and July 1, 2027.