A new Georgia law will force health insurers to process credentialing applications faster—and child care owners who bill insurance should understand what's changing.
Most child care owners don't realize that a provision buried deep in Georgia's SB440 could affect how quickly they get paid by health insurers. The law mandates that insurers approve credentialing applications within 45 days—a seemingly technical rule that has real money implications for small operators.
Credentialing is the process health insurers use to verify that a provider (in this case, a child care facility or individual caregiver) is legitimate and eligible to bill their plans. Before credentialing is complete, providers typically cannot submit claims or receive payment for services, even if they've already delivered care. This creates an unpaid-limbo period that can strain cash flow for small independent practices and clinics.
For child care operators who accept insurance reimbursement or work with health plans—whether for subsidized care, therapy services, or other covered services—credentialing delays directly reduce revenue during the approval window.
Effective July 1, 2026, Georgia health insurers must process and approve credentialing applications within 45 days of receipt. This is a hard deadline. The law also requires that a standardized application form be in use by July 1, 2027, which should reduce back-and-forth requests for missing information and further streamline the process.
The Georgia Department of Public Health will promulgate rules and regulations to implement these requirements, so operators should watch for guidance as the effective date approaches.
This provision applies most directly to child care operators who:
Even if you don't currently bill insurance, understanding this rule is useful if you're considering it. The 45-day window makes the process more predictable and faster than it may have been historically.
Review your current credentialing status with any health plans you work with. If you're in the middle of a credentialing application, document the submission date and follow up if you haven't heard back within 45 days after July 1, 2026. Keep records of any delays beyond that deadline, as they may be violations of the new standard.
If you're considering billing insurance but haven't started the credentialing process, the standardized form requirement (effective July 1, 2027) may make application simpler than it is today.
For a more detailed breakdown of how this affects your specific situation, the Georgia child care trade association has published a business-specific resource on SB440 and related insurance provisions.
Source: SB440, Section 2-1, Page 27; effective July 1, 2026; standardized application requirement effective July 1, 2027.