Most parents will undoubtedly agree kids are expensive! In 2015, CNN Money reported the cost of raising a child was $233,610. When a child has special needs, those costs can be multiplied by hundreds of thousands of dollars — and that is only counting the first 18 years of life. Those needs can linger well into adulthood and could require life-long care.
Georgia has developed resources to assist families in caring for their loved ones. Here are a few waivers specific to the state of Georgia which offer families assistance in medical costs, respite care and other community services.
Medicaid Waivers
TEFRA/Katie Beckett
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- Target Population: Children who would otherwise require care in an institution with any type of disability, including medical, developmental, intellectual, or psychiatric conditions.
- Ages: 0-18
- Levels of Care: Intermediate Care Facility, Nursing Facility, Hospital
- Description: Provides Medicaid coverage only.
- How to Apply: Call 678-248-7449 or pick up an application at your county Division of Family and Children Services office. Contact by mail at Right From the Start Medicaid Project, Centralized Katie Beckett Medicaid Team, 5815 Live Oak Parkway, Suite 2-D, Norcross, GA 30093-1700. Or check out our step-by-step directions.
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Georgia Pediatric Program (GAPP)
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- Target Population: Children who are medically fragile or technology dependent and need medical daycare or in-home nursing.
- Ages: 0-5
- Levels of Care: Nursing Facility, Hospital
- Description from Medicaid.gov: Provides medically fragile daycare service (full day more than 5 hrs), medically fragile daycare service (less or equal to 5 hrs) for medically fragile and technology dependent individuals, ages 0-5.
- How to Apply: Call 404-657-7882.
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Service Options Using Resources in the Community Environment (SOURCE)
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- Target Population: Children and adults with physical or other medical disabilities.
- Ages: all ages
- Levels of Care: Nursing Facility
- Description from Medicaid.gov: Provides adult day health, out-of-home respite, personal support services/personal support extended/consumer-directed personal support services, OT in adult day health care, PT in adult day health care, speech therapy in adult day health care, alternative living services, emergency response, enhanced care management, FMS, home-delivered meals, home delivered services, skilled nurses services for aged individuals 65 yrs – no max age, and PD individuals, ages 0 – 64.
- How to Apply: Call 866-552-4464
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New Options Waiver Program (NOW)
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- Target Population: Children and adults with developmental or intellectual disabilities.
- Ages: all ages
- Levels of Care: Intermediate Care Facility
- Expiration Date: 9/30/2017
- Description from Medicaid.gov: Provides community living support, prevocational, respite, support coordination, supported employment, specialized medical equipment, specialized medical supplies, community guide, FMS, adult dental, adult OT, adult PT, adult speech/language therapy, behavioral supports consultation, community access, environmental accessibility adaptation, individual directed goods and services, natural support training, transportation, vehicle adaptation for MR/IID, ages 0 – no max.
- How to Apply: (see link above)
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Comprehensive Supports Waiver Program (COMP)
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- Target Population: Children and adults with developmental or intellectual disabilities.
- Ages: all ages
- Levels of Care: Intermediate Care Facility
- Description from Medicaid.gov: Provides community living support, prevocational, respite, support coordination, supported employment, specialized medical equipment, specialized medical supplies, community guide, FMS, adult dental, adult OT, adult PT, adult speech/language therapy, behavioral supports consultation, community access, environmental accessibility adaptation, individual directed goods and services, natural support training, transportation, vehicle adaptation for MR/IID, ages 0 – no max.
- How to Apply: Contact the Department of Community Health
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ExOPS • Medicaid Waivers 101 from Shaun Clearie on Vimeo.
Additional Resource
Visit Kids Waivers for additional information on waivers.
Sheila Carter, Director of Navigation and Consumer Services for Insure GA is an avenue in getting FREE assistance securing a Medicaid waiver. You may contact her via phone at 478-254-5205 or e-mail at scarter@insurega.org. It’s also helpful to know she is the mom of a 10-year-old boy and 5-year-old girl who have both been diagnosed with ASD and other medical conditions.
