Georgia · children's waiver
Georgia Pediatric Program (GAPP) — Legally Responsible Caregiver Option in Georgia
GAPP covers in-home skilled nursing and personal care for medically fragile Georgia children under 21. Under an amendment to Georgia's Planning for Healthy Babies 1115 demonstration, parents and other legally responsible caregivers can be paid to provide the child's medically necessary personal care (not skilled nursing). Care goes through a Medicaid-approved GAPP agency with prior authorization.
Also called: GAPP · Georgia Pediatric Program · GAPP paid parent · GAPP personal care family caregiver
Who do you care for?
Quick facts
- Pay
- not published
- Adult children & other relatives
- Yes
- Spouse
- the program serves children.
- Parent of a minor child
- Yes
- Waitlist
- none
Who qualifies for Georgia Pediatric Program (GAPP) — Legally Responsible Caregiver Option
- Child under 21 enrolled in Georgia Medicaid.
- Medically fragile and needs medically necessary skilled nursing and/or personal care support.
- Services are prior-authorized and requested through a Medicaid-approved GAPP agency.
- For the paid-parent option: the child needs personal support services and the state finds the caregiver able to provide them.
Who can be paid as the caregiver
- Adult children & other relatives Yes
- other qualified family members can work as agency personal care aides.
- Spouse
- the program serves children.
- Parent of a minor child Yes
- parents and other legally responsible caregivers can be paid for personal care (not skilled nursing) under the 1115 amendment Georgia accepted in December 2024.
- Living together
- not stated as required.
Who employs the caregiver: Agency. The caregiver is employed through a Medicaid-approved GAPP provider agency.
Spouse rules differ by program — see spouse pay in Georgia.
How much Georgia Pediatric Program (GAPP) — Legally Responsible Caregiver Option pays
not published. DCH said the change would not alter GAPP's personal care payment method; the agency is paid the GAPP personal care rate and sets the caregiver's wage. No family caregiver rate is published.
Hours and budget: Hours are prior-authorized by DCH based on the child's medical needs and physician orders.
Compare with other Georgia programs on the Georgia caregiver pay page, or across states in pay rates by state.
Is there a waitlist?
No waitlist is published; access depends on medical eligibility and an available GAPP agency.
How to apply for Georgia Pediatric Program (GAPP) — Legally Responsible Caregiver Option
- Ask the child's physician to send a referral and medical records to a Medicaid-approved GAPP agency.
- The agency submits the prior authorization request and an assessment sets the level of care.
- Ask the agency about its family caregiver option and complete its hiring, training and background checks.
- Once authorized, the parent works the approved personal care hours as an agency employee.
- Georgia Department of Community Health · 404-656-4507 · official site
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Georgia Pediatric Program (GAPP) — Legally Responsible Caregiver Option questions
Can I get paid to care for my medically fragile child in Georgia?
Yes, for personal care through GAPP. Georgia's 1115 amendment lets parents and other legally responsible caregivers be paid through a GAPP agency.
Can a parent be paid for skilled nursing?
No. The paid-parent option covers personal care, not skilled nursing.
Is this permanent?
It began as a COVID-era flexibility, was extended through March 2024, and Georgia asked CMS to make it permanent. Georgia signed acceptance of the approval in December 2024; the demonstration runs through 2029.
How old can my child be?
Under 21.
Do I apply to the state directly?
No. Requests go through a Medicaid-approved GAPP agency, which handles prior authorization.
Sources: medicaid.gov · medicaid.gov · medicaid.gov · dch.georgia.gov · Updated 2026-10-08. Program rules change — always confirm with the program.
Where most Georgia caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in Georgia — pick yours for the local picture.
Across the line
States that border Georgia
Each state writes its own rules, and they differ more than people expect — a spouse who can be paid on one side of the line often cannot be on the other.