Is 10 GAPP hours a week normal?
There is no single normal number. GAPP hours are set from what is in your child's records: the skilled tasks, how often they happen, the equipment, and who else can cover. A low number often means the file did not show the whole picture, not that your child needs less care.
Why did my child get so few GAPP hours?
Common reasons a GAPP approval comes back low:
- The doctor's letter does not name every skilled task or how often it happens
- The records are old and miss recent hospital stays, surgery or new equipment
- The caregiver skills checklist suggests a parent can already cover tasks they have not been trained on
- ER and urgent care visits are not in the file
- Nothing explains why family cannot cover the remaining hours
Your decision letter should state the reason. Start there.
What should I do first if my child was approved for too few GAPP hours?
- Find the date on the letter. You usually have 30 days from that date to ask for a reconsideration.
- Read the stated reason. Does it match your child's real needs?
- Ask your child's doctor for a current letter that lists each skilled task and how often it is needed.
- Take the two-minute appeal check or call us, and we will help you decide the best route.
Which hours were low: skilled nursing or personal support?
GAPP has two kinds of hours. Skilled nursing hours cover tasks only a licensed nurse can do, like tube feeding, suctioning and trach care. Personal support hours cover bathing, dressing, meals and help moving around, and a parent can sometimes be paid for these through the Family Caregiver Option. Check which kind was low, because the records that help are different for each.
What if the 30 days have already passed?
You still have options. A new hours request from your agency and your child's doctor, with fresh records, can go in at any time, especially if something changed in your child's health, equipment or home. See how GAPP appeals work.
Questions families ask
Could asking for more GAPP hours backfire?
Hours can go up, stay the same, or be reduced at a regular review, for any child. Before we file, we tell you if your records look thin, and we only ask for the hours your child needs.
Can my child's GAPP hours go up later?
Yes, if your child's needs change. A new diagnosis, surgery, hospital stay, new equipment, or a caregiver who can no longer cover are all reasons to ask for more hours.
Is this help free?
Yes. GAPP Check is free for families.