Update on Georgia Medicaid Rate Increases

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.

​Separate from the CMS approval process, DCH is already working on the data migration necessary to implement the rate increases for all HCBS providers. The HCAOA Georgia Chapter notes that DCH worked proactively to gain approval of these rate increases to avoid the delays in implementation that have occurred in the past, and applauds DCH’s efforts. 

As reported previously, the programs seeing rate increases include the Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP) and the Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program (EDWP), with provider rate increases to match the recommendations of rate studies completed last year.  In addition, the Legislature added, and the Governor approved, rate increases for the Georgia Pediatric Program (GAPP) to give this HCBS Medicaid program rate parity with ICWP and EDWP rates.