 As of July 1, the Georgia Department of Community Health notified the HCAOA Georgia Chapter that the Medicaid billing system is NOT yet set up to accept the updated rates for the Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP) and Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program (EDWP). However, the rate increases ARE effective as of July 1, so payment will be retroactive once the system is updated with the new rates.
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 Last week, the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) informed the HCAOA Georgia Chapter that it received approval from CMS for the Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP) and Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program (EDWP) amendments submitted in May. The waiver amendments for both ICWP and EDWP were approved with an effective date of July 1, 2024.
 As HCAOA has reported previously, several rate increases for Medicaid providers of home and community-based services (HCBS) in Georgia were included in the SFY 2025 budget, which was signed in May and later approved by the Georgia Department of Community Health. The increases were then sent to CMS for their approval prior to implementation. CMS has submitted a series of questions to DCH concerning these rate increases and responses have already been submitted. DCH continues to work closely with CMS to facilitate the final approval of the rate increases, and based on the current status, the goal continues to be an effective date of July 1.
 The Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) Board approved the reimbursement rate increases recommended in the Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP) and Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program (EDWP) effective July 1, 2024. These rate increases now go to CMS for their approval.
 The Georgia General Assembly passed the SFY 2025 budget. The SFY 2025 Budget contains funds to fully implement the reimbursement rates recommended in the Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP) and Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program (EDWP) provider rate studies completed last year.
 HCAOA’s Georgia Chapter is pleased to report that the House has approved the SFY 2025 budget, and now the budget is in the Senate for consideration. The chapter previously met with the House Appropriations Chair and recently met with the Senate Appropriations Chair to answer questions and advocate for passage of the SFY 2025 with this funding fully intact. The Chapter will continue to follow the budget process in the Senate and are prepared to answer any questions on behalf of the budget request.
 Representative Jesse Petrea has forwarded an update that he received earlier today concerning the approaching deadline of September 15th for all Medicaid providers to revalidate their credentials. This revalidation process must be completed to assure that providers continue to receive their Medicaid reimbursements for services rendered to Medicaid members.
Thousands of Georgians have had continuous Medicaid coverage stemming from the ongoing federal COVID public health emergency (PHE). However, when the PHE expires, states must conduct redeterminations of Medicaid recipients to check their eligibility. Georgia Medicaid recipients will soon receive one or more text messages from the Georgia Department of Human Services asking them to update their account information and communication preferences. The timeline for expiration remains uncertain, but Medicaid recipients are strongly encouraged to review and update their information now.
Georgia Department of Community Health Seeking Feedback on Waiver Programs – Your Thoughts?6/8/2022 The Georgia Department of Community Health is accepting public comments for 30 days on the New Options Waiver (NOW) and the Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program (EDWP) to renew both waiver programs. HCAOA will submit comments on behalf of members. Georgia agencies are asked to provide feedback or comments to Eric Reinarman, HCAOA VP, Government Relations at [email protected] by this Friday, June 10.
NOW is a Medicaid waiver that can be used to enable eligible GA residents with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities to receive care at home. The EDWP provides in-home care to eligible frail, elderly, and disabled residents in GA. Click here for additional information on the public notices, the draft waiver applications, and the online webform to submit written comments.
Hurry! You can still register for the GA Chapter meeting tomorrow in Atlanta at the Georgian Terrace Hotel. The full day meeting will be held from 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Melissa Man of myCNAjobs will talk caregiver recruitment and retention, and guest speakers from alliantgroup share details on the Employee Retention Credit. Plus, more: [read more]
The meeting includes lunch, networking, and time to chat with meeting sponsors and vendors. The cost for members is $75. Register now. Sponsored by:    9Guest speaker Maggie Keen, VP of Strategic Initiatives, myCNAjobs.com, will be sharing insight into caregiver recruitment and retention during the Georgia Chapter Meeting May 19, from 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., at the Georgian Terrace Hotel. This meeting covers all aspects of running a home care agency, from workplace mandates to marketing a private business. Plus, you will hear federal and state legislative updates, and get news from your chapter chair, Eddie Grogan. Here is a look at the agenda and speakers for the day, which also includes lunch, networking, and time to chat with meeting sponsors and vendors.
The cost for members is $75. Register now. Meeting Sponsors:
In one day, you can learn about all the hot issues facing home care agencies in Georgia. From how to recruit more caregivers, what Congress is doing that may impact your business and your clients to hearing about current mandates in the workplace – all these issues and much more s will be covered during the upcoming Georgia Chapter meeting on May 19, 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the Georgian Terrace Hotel.
Below is the agenda for the day:
The cost is $75 for members and $150 for non-members. Register now.  Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) Commissioner Candice L. Broce named Melody DeBussey as the Department’s new Deputy Commissioner for Family Independence, an office comprised of more than 2,500 employees. In this role, she will oversee the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, and other self-sufficiency and family support activities.
"Melody DeBussey is a brilliant public servant with the right policy expertise, fiscal track record, and forward-thinking leadership style to lead the State of Georgia's integrated eligibility system and 2,616-strong workforce,” said Commissioner Broce. “We are honored to welcome her to the Department of Human Services. Go Jackets!" Before joining DHS, DeBussey served the nonpartisan Georgia Senate Budget and Evaluation Office as Senior Program Analyst and Deputy Director before becoming Director in 2013. She previously held roles in Home Depot’s corporate compliance department and served as a performance auditor with the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts. DeBussey holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Policy from the Georgia Institute of Technology and served on the board of the National Association of Legislative Fiscal Offices. She and her husband, Jack, have one daughter. Ann Mellen and Burton Peebles of Polsinelli Law Firm will be cover mandates in the workplace, plus our roster of speakers will cover other employment topics like the employee retention credit, and recruitment and retention.
We'll also cover legislative and policy updates, have lunch, and spend time networking. Join us before space fills up for this full day on May 16 at Georgian Terrace Hotel.
The cost is $75 for members and $150 for non-members. Register now. |
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