Katie Beckett and GAPP
Katie Beckett Waiver in Georgia: How It Connects to GAPP
Many families earn too much for regular Medicaid, yet their child needs hospital level care at home. Georgia’s Katie Beckett pathway was built for exactly that situation, and it can open the door to GAPP nursing.
Enrolled GAPP Provider
College Park, Georgia
0-21
Ages GAPP covers
01 / The basics
What Is the Katie Beckett Program?
Katie Beckett is a Georgia Medicaid eligibility category, also called TEFRA or the Deeming Waiver. It lets certain children with disabilities who live at home qualify for Medicaid even when their family’s income is too high for other Medicaid programs.
The program is named after a young girl whose family worked to bring her home from the hospital without losing her Medicaid coverage. Her story led to a federal option that states can use, and Georgia offers it.
The key idea is simple. A child who would qualify for Medicaid while living in a hospital or nursing facility can keep that same eligibility while being cared for at home, as long as home care is appropriate and costs Medicaid less than institutional care would.
02 / Who may qualify
The Main Eligibility Rules
Georgia’s policy manual and DCH program pages describe several requirements. The state reviews each one, and the state alone decides who qualifies.
01
A Child With a Disability
The child must meet the disability standards used for children and must be within the age limit set in current state policy.
02
Institutional Level of Care
The child’s needs must be serious enough that they would otherwise call for care in a hospital, nursing facility, or intermediate care facility. A diagnosis alone is not enough; the level of care is what counts.
03
The Child's Own Income
Parents’ income and resources are not counted. Medicaid looks only at the child’s own income and resources, which is why many working families can qualify.
04
Safe, Cost Effective Home Care
The child must be able to be cared for safely at home, and the cost of Medicaid services at home must be less than the cost of institutional care.
A Note on the Age Limit
Georgia’s published documents do not all describe the age limit the same way. Some DCH materials refer to children 18 and younger, while the current DFCS policy manual describes coverage continuing through the month a child turns 19. Please check the official Katie Beckett page or ask DCH for the current rule for your child.
03 / How they fit
How Katie Beckett Connects to GAPP
Katie Beckett and GAPP do different jobs. Katie Beckett answers the question of whether your child has Georgia Medicaid. GAPP answers the question of what in-home help your child can receive.
The Georgia Pediatric Program (GAPP) is a Georgia Medicaid program, administered by the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH), that provides in-home skilled nursing and personal care support for medically fragile children ages 0-21. To receive GAPP, a child must be Medicaid eligible. For families above the usual income limits, Katie Beckett is often the pathway that makes that possible.
Once a child has Medicaid, GAPP services still need their own approval. The child’s physician documents medical necessity, an enrolled GAPP agency requests prior authorization, and the state decides which services and how many hours to approve.
- Katie Beckett: a way to become Medicaid eligible based on the child's own income
- GAPP: a Medicaid program that provides skilled nursing and personal care at home
- Each has its own review, and approval for one does not guarantee the other
04 / High level steps
How Families Apply for Katie Beckett
The details can change, so always follow the current instructions on the official Georgia Medicaid page. At a high level, the process looks like this.
01
Gather Medical Records
Collect recent records, evaluations, and therapy notes that show your child’s diagnoses and day to day care needs.
02
Complete the Application Packet
Georgia DCH runs a Katie Beckett online portal for applications. The packet includes a physician’s recommendation and a medical necessity and level of care statement completed with your child’s doctor.
03
State Reviews Level of Care
The state’s medical review team decides whether your child meets the institutional level of care. DFCS reviews the Medicaid financial side.
04
Ongoing Reviews
Georgia’s policy describes the level of care being authorized for no less than two years, while Medicaid eligibility itself is renewed on the schedule DFCS sets. Keep paperwork current so coverage is not interrupted.
05 / Our role
What SLB In-Home Care Can Help With
SLB In-Home Care is an enrolled GAPP provider. We do not decide Katie Beckett or Medicaid eligibility; the state does. What we can do is help your family keep the paperwork organized and connect Medicaid coverage to real nursing care at home.
Paperwork Support
- Explaining which records the state typically asks for
- Helping you organize physician orders and medical records
- Answering questions about where GAPP fits
GAPP Services
- Preparing and submitting the GAPP prior authorization packet
- Tracking the request and helping with appeals if denied
- Staffing licensed RNs and LPNs and coordinating schedules
Sources And Official Information
- Georgia Medicaid: TEFRA/Katie Beckett program page
- Georgia DFCS Medicaid Policy Manual, section 2133 TEFRA/Katie Beckett
- Georgia DCH Katie Beckett portal
- Georgia DCH: Georgia Pediatric Program (GAPP) overview
- Georgia DFCS Medicaid Policy Manual, section 2933 Georgia Pediatric Program
Last reviewed October 2026. This page is general information, not medical or legal advice. Program rules can change; the State of Georgia makes all eligibility decisions.
FAQ
Questions About Katie Beckett and GAPP
Is Katie Beckett the same thing as GAPP?
No. They are separate. Many children first qualify for Medicaid through Katie Beckett and then apply for GAPP services through an enrolled agency.
Do we need Katie Beckett to get GAPP?
Not always. If your child already qualifies for Medicaid another way, such as through SSI or income based Medicaid, Katie Beckett may not be needed. It mainly helps families whose income is too high for those programs.
What counts as the child's own income or resources?
Examples can include a trust, savings, or benefits paid in the child’s name. Mention anything like this when you apply so the state can review it.
Can we apply for GAPP while Katie Beckett is still under review?
You can start gathering GAPP paperwork, and we can help you understand the steps. GAPP services cannot be authorized until your child has active Medicaid, so timing depends on the state’s decision.
Our child has private insurance. Can they still qualify?
Yes, children with private insurance can still apply. Medicaid can act as secondary coverage. For GAPP, there is no out-of-pocket cost for approved hours when approved by Georgia Medicaid.
What if Katie Beckett is denied?
The denial notice should explain the reason and your appeal rights. Read it carefully, note any deadlines, and talk with your child’s doctor about whether more documentation would help.
Can two children with the same diagnosis get different decisions?
Yes. Because the state looks at the care each child actually needs, results can differ even when the condition has the same name.
Can SLB In-Home Care tell us whether our child will qualify?
We cannot predict or decide eligibility. Our eligibility questions page is a good first step, and you can call us during office hours to talk it through.
Who do I call in an emergency?
SLB In-Home Care is not an emergency service. If your child is in danger or has trouble breathing, call 911 right away.
Take The First Step
Talk With Us About GAPP and Katie Beckett
Call 404-905-8332 or send a message, and we will walk you through the next steps for your child.