Georgia 2025 Budget Clears Legislature

​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.

These funds were approved as presented in the original Governor’s budget:
 
DCH Section 17:7.10 State Funds $  39,596,901
Total Funds $116,470,036
 
In addition to these funds benefiting EDWP providers, HCAOA Georgia Chapter members providing services under the Georgia Pediatric Program also had a rate increase added to the SFY 20255 budget that totals as follows:
 
DCH Section 17.7.13 State Funds $  15,957,601
Total Funds $  46,937,573
 
The SFY 2025 budget is now awaiting the approval of Gov. Brian Kemp. The Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) Board has granted initial approval for the ICWP and EDWP rate increases. Rate increases were also approved for NOW and COMP waivers based on their rate studies. With this DCH Board approval, public comment is now open until April 15, 2024. The HCAOA Georgia Chapter will submit a written response in support of the rate increases. The DCH Board will be scheduled to consider the final approval of these rate increases at their May 9, 2024, meeting. Once final approval is granted, the rate increases will be submitted to CMS for approval.

Updates will be provided as the rate increases move forward in the approval process.