How does a GAPP appeal work in Georgia?
- Reconsideration. You can ask for a reconsideration within 30 days of the notice.
- Fair hearing. If the reconsideration is denied, you can ask for a fair hearing within 30 days of the final letter.
Your decision letter sets your real deadline. GAPP Check reads the letter first and keeps the calendar.
What if more than 30 days have passed since the GAPP letter?
You still have options. A new hours request from your nursing agency and your child's doctor, with fresh records, can be sent outside the appeal window. A change in your child's health, new equipment, or a change at home, like a caregiver who can no longer cover nights, is a valid reason to ask for more hours at any time.
What should a GAPP appeal include?
- A current doctor's letter naming each skilled task and how often it is needed
- Hospital, ER and equipment records from the last 12 months
- Nursing notes that agree with the doctor's letter
- A short statement on why family cannot cover the gap
- An accurate caregiver training record: what you have learned and what still needs a nurse
- Your decision letter, checked against the records: does its stated reason match your child's needs?
Is a GAPP appeal worth it?
It depends on your child's records. Children who need skilled nursing tasks several times a day, have had recent hospital or ER visits, and have no other trained caregiver tend to have the strongest cases. If your records look thin, GAPP Check tells you before anything is filed. Take the two-minute appeal check to see where you stand.
What happens while a GAPP appeal is pending?
Renewal packets still go in on time while the appeal is pending, and your agency should not send a change request in the meantime. If your child is hospitalized or gets worse, your agency tells the reviewer through the portal's contact option. GAPP Check tracks these dates so nothing is missed.
How does GAPP Check help with a GAPP appeal?
- You send a photo of your decision letter.
- We check the deadline and the stated reason against your child's records.
- We gather the records and write the request with you, your doctor and your agency. You review and sign.
- If the answer is still no, we help you prepare for the fair hearing.
When is GAPP Check not the right fit for an appeal?
We are not a law firm and we are not part of the state. If you want a lawyer to represent you at a fair hearing, contact a legal aid group. Georgia has free legal help for families: Georgia Legal Services Program, Georgia Appleseed and the Georgia Advocacy Office.
Questions families ask
Could a GAPP appeal lower my child's hours?
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.
Do I need a lawyer for a GAPP appeal?
Many families ask for a reconsideration with help from their agency or a service like ours. If your case goes to a fair hearing and you want a lawyer, Georgia's legal aid groups may be able to help.
Is GAPP appeal help free?
Yes. GAPP Check is free for families. No nursing agency pays us or funds GAPP Check, and families never pay.
What if the reason in my letter looks wrong?
Tell us. The letter has to give a reason for the change, and that reason should match your child's needs and the records the reviewer used. If it does not, that is worth raising in the appeal.