What is GAPP?
GAPP is the Georgia Pediatric Program, a Medicaid program run by the Georgia Department of Community Health for medically fragile children under 21. It pays for in-home skilled nursing and personal support so children can be cared for at home.
What is the difference between skilled nursing and personal support hours?
Skilled nursing hours cover tasks only a licensed nurse can do, such as tube feeding, suctioning and trach care. Personal support hours cover bathing, dressing, meals and help moving around. With the Family Caregiver Option, a parent who lives with the child can be paid for personal support hours, but not for skilled nursing.
What should a new GAPP family track?
Keep a few lines each day. You do not need anything fancy:
- The date, time and skilled task done, and whether a nurse or you did it
- Any gap in coverage, such as a nurse who did not come or a shift left unfilled
- Every ER, urgent care or hospital visit, with the date and the reason
- Anything a nurse said you should be able to handle yourself
Ask your agency for copies of your nurses' own notes too. Together they show a reviewer what a normal week looks like.
When should a new GAPP family ask for more hours?
If you have a letter with a deadline, act right away. If not, most new families do better giving it about two months first, so the notes show a real picture. That is our experience, so check it with your agency too. If something changes sooner, like a hospital stay or new equipment, you do not have to wait.
Will earning more money cost my child GAPP hours?
GAPP hours are based on your child's medical needs, not on what you earn. Many children are covered through the Katie Beckett (Deeming) waiver, which does not count parents' income. GAPP Check confirms which type of Medicaid your child has when we review your case.
How does GAPP Check help new GAPP families?
GAPP Check sets up a simple daily log with you, explains your approval letter in plain words, tracks your first renewal date, and helps you ask for more hours when the record supports it.
Questions families ask
We just started GAPP. Should we appeal right away?
If you have a letter with a deadline, call us right away. If not, most new families do better keeping simple notes for about two months first, then reviewing the hours with those notes in hand.
Do we have to use a specific nursing agency?
No. Your child's hours belong to your child, not to the agency. See how to choose or switch a GAPP agency.
Is help for new GAPP families free?
Yes. GAPP Check is free for families.