Georgia Medicaid Resources

• State Medicaid Website: Georgia
• Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities Website
• The Arc of Georgia

Georgia Medicaid Facts: From Kaiser Family Foundation Medicaid Fact Sheet (2009)

There are 258,400 people with disabilities using Medicaid in Georgia. The state spent $9,065 on each Medicaid recipient with a disability in 2007.

15% of the people covered by Medicaid in Georgia have a disability, which is the same as the percentage of people with a disability covered by Medicaid nationally.

However, national Medicaid spending on services for people with disabilities is 42% of all money spent on Medicaid, while Georgia spends 36% of its Medicaid money on these services.

Georgia Better Health Care

This is a program that provides adults and children with disabilities access to primary care services only. It does not cover anyone who is also eligible for Medicare.

• Health: physician services, disease management
• Social Services: case management

Non-Emergency Transportation Program

This program can help pay for transportation to and from routine, scheduled doctor’s appointments and related medical errands. Some people who are also eligible for Medicare will not be eligible.

• Community: transportation (medical)

New Options Waiver (NOW) and Comprehensive Supports Waiver (COMP)

These waivers are replacing Georgia’s old MR waiver program. Their purpose is to provide people with I/DD with the services they want in their own homes or in the community instead of in an institution or residential facility. People who need less intensive services will be eligible for the NOW program, and people who need intensive in-home support or a high level of supervision will use the COMP program.

Level of Care: intermediate

Option for Self-Direction: people enrolled in the NOW program have the option of self-directed goods and services.

• Community: community access and community guide services, transportation, natural support training (NOW program)
• Health: adult occupational therapy, adult physical therapy, adult speech and language therapy, behavioral support consultation, specialized medical equipment and supplies
• Home: community living support, environmental accessibility modifications, vehicle adaptations, respite (NOW program), alternative residential services (COMP program)
• Social Services: support coordination, financial support services
• Work: pre-vocational services, supported employment

Elderly and Disabled Waiver

Like other Elderly and Disabled waivers, this program covers older adults who need services or people who have permanent physical disabilities.

Ages: 65 and over for adults with and without disabilities, 60 and over for adults with permanent physical disabilities

• Community: adult day care, out-of-home respite
• Health: personal emergency response systems, skilled nursing
• Home: personal support, alternative living services, home-delivered meals, in-home services
• Social Services: case management

Independent Care Waiver Program

This waiver is designed to help a limited number of people with disabilities live at home or in community settings instead of in institutions. Under the program design, people with disabilities and their families work together with state Medicaid agencies to direct their own care and come up with a plan that the state approves. This waiver covers people with brain injuries as well as other physical disabilities.

Ages: you must be between 21 and 64 when you apply to the program

Options for Self-direction: This waiver is designed to help people with disabilities and their families work together with agencies to come up with a personal care plan.

• Health: emergency response, specialized medical equipment and supplies, counseling
• Home: personal support, home health care, respite care, home modifications
• Social Services: service coordination