Georgia Medicaid Waiver Programs

What is Georgia Medicaid?

Georgia currently has four waivers or programs that are open to children. Georgia has a TEFRA program and three HCBS 1915(c) Medicaid waivers. All programs waive parent income. For an overview of the programs, see this waiver program page, this page from Community Health, or view this guide.

Georgia’s GAPP program previously functioned as a waiver to provide medical daycare services in addition to in-home nursing. This program now only provides in-home nursing through the regular Medicaid state plan for children under 21. It can be accessed by families already in Medicaid or via the TEFRA/Katie Beckett program.

Types of Medicaid Waiver Programs

TEFRA/Katie Beckett

• Description: Provides Medicaid coverage only. In-home nursing and personal care services are provided through the GAPP program.
• Online State Information: TEFRA/Katie Beckett Page
• How to Apply: Call 678-248-7449 or follow the instructions on this page.

Elderly and Disabled

• Description from medicaid.gov: Provides adult day health, case management, out-of-home respite, personal support services/personal support extended/consumer directed personal support services, occupational therapy in adult day health care, physical therapy in adult day health care, speech therapy in adult day health care, alternative living services, assistive technology, emergency response services, financial management services, home delivered meals, home delivered services, skilled nurses services, structured family caregiving, transition community integration services, transition coordination (month 1-6), transition coordination (month 7-12), transition coordination (pre-discharge), and transition services and supports to individuals ages 65 or older and individuals with physical disabilities ages 0-64 years who meet a nursing facility level of care.
• Online State Information: SOURCE Program and Community Care Services Program. See also this Guide for general information.
• Official Federal Information
• How to Apply: Call 866-552-4464 or contact your local Georgia Aging office.

New Options Waiver

• Description from medicaid.gov: Provides community living support – basic, community living support – extended, prevocational services, adult dental services, adult occupational therapy services, adult physical therapy services, adult speech and language therapy services, nutrition services, specialized medical equipment, specialized medical supplies, community guide, financial support services, assistive technology, behavioral supports services – level I and level II, community access, environmental accessibility adaptation, individual directed goods and services, intensive support coordination, interpreter services, natural support training, respite – in home – 15 minute, respite – out of home – 15 minute, respite – out of home – daily, skilled nursing services, support coordination, supported employment services, transition community integration services, transition services and support, transportation, and vehicle adaptation services to individuals with intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities ages 0 or older who meet an ICF/IID level of care.
• Online State Information: New Options Waiver
• Official Federal Information
• How to Apply: Contact the Department of Community Health or DBHDD.

Comprehensive Supports Waiver Program

• Description from medicaid.gov: Provides community access, community living support – basic, community living support – extended services, prevocational services, support coordination, supported employment, nutrition services, specialized medical equipment, specialized medical supplies, financial support services, additional staffing – basic, additional staffing – enhanced, adult dental, adult occupational therapy services, adult physical therapy services, adult speech and language therapy services, nursing services, assistive technology, behavioral support services- level I and level II, community residential alternative, environmental accessibility adaptation, individual directed goods and services, intensive support coordination, interpreter services, respite- out-of-home daily, respite-15 minute out-of-home, respite services-15 minute in-home, transition community integration services, transition services and supports, transportation, and vehicle adaptation services to individuals with intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities ages 5 or older who meet an ICF/IID level of care.
• Online State Information: COMP Waiver
• Official Federal Information
• How to Apply: Contact the Department of Community Health or DBHDD.

Other online resources for Georgia:

• Georgia Autism Initiative is a state program that does early screenings for autism and can help families get access to behavioral intervention services.
• Marcus Autism Center provides educational resources, advice, and workshops for parents
  A great list of autism resources in Georgia.
• Parent to Parent of Georgia should be able to help you with information sharing and support from other parents of children with disabilities
• New Options Waiver (NOW Program and the Comprehensive Supports Waiver Program (COMP Waiver)

Read more: Autism Support Groups Atlanta

Telephone Resources

Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities — (404) 657-2252

Ordering Goally with a Medicaid Waiver

Talk with your case manager to see if the waiver program you have will cover Goally. If so, have your case manager email us at: [email protected] to place an order on your behalf.

This post was originally published on 02/15/2021. It was updated on 03/19/2025.