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Home care programs · Georgia

Georgia home care programs

Georgia pays for care at home through 10 programs. Consumer-directed care is available through Consumer-Directed Personal Support Services (CD-PSS). Family members can be paid caregivers in 5 of them. Structured family caregiving runs as Structured Family Caregiving (SFC).

Verified Oct 9, 2026Sources: official state and federal agencies

Every state
Programs
10
Consumer-directed
Yes
Family can be paid
Yes
Structured family caregiving
Yes
On this page
Programs

Every way Georgia pays for care at home

Georgia pays for care at home through 10 programs. Consumer-directed care is available through Consumer-Directed Personal Support Services (CD-PSS). Family members can be paid caregivers in 5 of them. Structured family caregiving runs as Structured Family Caregiving (SFC).

ProgramTypeCan family be paidHow it differs
Georgia Pediatric Program (GAPP)State Plan / EPSDT (private duty nursing and personal care) with 1115 authority for legally responsible caregiversHome healthYesSkilled home health: nursing, therapy and aide visits under a plan of care from a licensed home health agency; run as an 1115 demonstration, paid fee-for-service.
Home Health Services (HHA)State Plan home health (Attachment 3.1-A item 7)Home healthNot statedSkilled home health: nursing, therapy and aide visits under a plan of care from a licensed home health agency; run as a Medicaid State Plan benefit, available through fee-for-service and managed care.
Consumer-Directed Personal Support Services (CD-PSS)Participant direction option within 1915(c) GA.0112Consumer-directedNot statedConsumer-directed care: the participant hires and directs their own aide, with payroll handled for them; run as a 1915(c) home and community-based services waiver, paid fee-for-service.
Structured Family Caregiving (SFC)1915(c) waiver GA.0112 service (added 2019)Structured family caregivingYesStructured family caregiving: a live-in family caregiver paid a daily stipend, supported by an agency; run as a 1915(c) home and community-based services waiver, paid fee-for-service.
Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program (EDWP) — Community Care Services Program (CCSP) and SOURCE1915(c) waiver GA.0112Waiver in-homeNoWaiver in-home services: supports at home for people who meet a nursing-home or similar level of care; run as a 1915(c) home and community-based services waiver, paid fee-for-service.
Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP)1915(c) waiver GA.4170Waiver in-homeYesWaiver in-home services: supports at home for people who meet a nursing-home or similar level of care; run as a 1915(c) home and community-based services waiver, paid fee-for-service.
New Options Waiver (NOW) and Comprehensive Supports Waiver (COMP) (NOW/COMP)1915(c) waivers GA.0175 (NOW) and GA.0323 (COMP)Waiver in-homeYesWaiver in-home services: supports at home for people who meet a nursing-home or similar level of care; run as a 1915(c) home and community-based services waiver, paid fee-for-service.
Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)PACE State Plan option (42 CFR Part 460)PACENot statedPACE: one organization covers medical care, a day center and home care for people 55 and over; run as the PACE benefit, delivered through managed-care plans.
Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Program — non-MedicaidState and federal aging funds (non-Medicaid)State-fundedNot statedState-funded home care: paid outside Medicaid, usually for people who do not qualify for it; paid fee-for-service.
GAPP personal care services by legally responsible individuals1115 demonstration (Georgia Planning for Healthy Babies) expenditure authority for 1905(a) personal care by legally responsible individualsOtherYesAnother way the state pays for care at home; run as an 1115 demonstration, paid fee-for-service.
Guide

Home health vs home care vs consumer-directed care in Georgia

What each kind of program is, who employs the caregiver and when a family member can be paid.

Home health: the medical benefit

In Georgia, skilled home health is Georgia Pediatric Program (GAPP) and Home Health Services (HHA). It is a medical benefit: a doctor or other practitioner orders nursing, therapy or home health aide visits under a written plan of care, and the visits stop when the skilled need ends.

Only a licensed home health agency enrolled with Georgia Medicaid can bill it, and the agency's own nurses, therapists and aides make the visits.

Home care: non-medical personal care through an agency

Help with bathing, dressing, eating and household tasks is "home care" or personal care. In Georgia it is paid through the programs below rather than a separate agency personal care benefit.

Consumer-directed care: the person hires their own aide

Georgia's consumer-directed option is Consumer-Directed Personal Support Services (CD-PSS). The person receiving care, or a representative, recruits, hires, trains, schedules and supervises the aide, and can let go of one. A fiscal intermediary runs payroll, taxes and background checks, so the person never handles wages directly.

Family members are not paid caregivers under this option.

Structured family caregiving: a paid live-in family caregiver

Georgia offers structured family caregiving through Structured Family Caregiving (SFC). A family member who lives with the person provides day-to-day care and is paid a daily stipend rather than hourly wages.

An agency that holds the Medicaid contract enrolls the household, coaches the caregiver, checks in on a set schedule and keeps the care notes. Unlike consumer-directed care, the caregiver does not become anyone's employee by the hour, and the agency, not the family, is the Medicaid provider.

Other ways Georgia pays for care at home

Waiver in-home services: Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program (EDWP) — Community Care Services Program (CCSP) and SOURCE, Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP), and New Options Waiver (NOW) and Comprehensive Supports Waiver (COMP) (NOW/COMP). These pay for in-home supports for people who meet a nursing-home or similar level of care, often with more services than state plan personal care and, in some programs, a waiting list or enrollment cap.

PACE: Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). One PACE organization covers medical care, a day center and home care for people 55 and over who need nursing-home level care.

State-funded: Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Program — non-Medicaid. Paid from state funds outside Medicaid, for people who do not qualify for Medicaid or are waiting for it.

Also: GAPP personal care services by legally responsible individuals.

Which one fits

  • Needs nursing, wound care, injections or therapy at home: home health (Georgia Pediatric Program (GAPP) and Home Health Services (HHA)).
  • Wants to choose the aide, including a relative where allowed: Consumer-Directed Personal Support Services (CD-PSS).
  • Lives with a family member who provides care most of the day: Structured Family Caregiving (SFC).
  • Meets nursing-home level of care and needs more than personal care: Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program (EDWP) — Community Care Services Program (CCSP) and SOURCE, Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP), and New Options Waiver (NOW) and Comprehensive Supports Waiver (COMP) (NOW/COMP).
In the workspace

Georgia program rules, side by side

Eligibility, the family caregiver rules (spouses, parents, live-in caregivers), employer of record, fiscal intermediary, caregiver training, provider requirements, how to enroll, published pay, EVV and waiting lists: 131 details across 10 programs.

ProgramFamily rulesEmployerEligibilityPay
See Georgia's program rules — start free

Who can be paid, who employs the caregiver, what each program requires of agencies and caregivers, how to become a provider and what it pays, for all 10 programs.

  • Family caregiver rules
  • Provider requirements
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Program by program

Georgia's programs

What each program is and how it differs from the others. Locked details open in the workspace.

Georgia Pediatric Program (GAPP)

Home health

State Plan / EPSDT (private duty nursing and personal care) with 1115 authority for legally responsible caregivers · Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH); Alliant Health Solutions performs medical review

Skilled home health: nursing, therapy and aide visits under a plan of care from a licensed home health agency; run as an 1115 demonstration, paid fee-for-service.

Can family be paid?Yes
How to get set up
Provider track · 7 steps
  1. Register the business
  2. 6 more steps: forms, fees, timelines and links
Family / participant track · 6 steps
  1. Medicaid financial eligibility
  2. 5 more steps: forms, fees, timelines and links
Open the full checklist →
EligibilityServices coveredHours or budgetFamily caregiver rulesEmployer of recordCaregiver requirementsProvider requirementsHow to become a providerPay rateEVVWaiting list or capRecent changesHow it differs, in detailSetup checklistUnlock the details →

Home Health Services (HHA)

Home health

State Plan home health (Attachment 3.1-A item 7) · Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH)

Skilled home health: nursing, therapy and aide visits under a plan of care from a licensed home health agency; run as a Medicaid State Plan benefit, available through fee-for-service and managed care.

Can family be paid?Not stated
How to get set up
Provider track · 9 steps
  1. Register the business
  2. 8 more steps: forms, fees, timelines and links
Family / participant track · 6 steps
  1. Medicaid financial eligibility
  2. 5 more steps: forms, fees, timelines and links
Open the full checklist →
EligibilityServices coveredHours or budgetEmployer of recordCaregiver requirementsProvider requirementsHow to become a providerPay rateEVVWaiting list or capManaged-care plansRecent changesHow it differs, in detailSetup checklistUnlock the details →

Consumer-Directed Personal Support Services (CD-PSS)

Consumer-directed

Participant direction option within 1915(c) GA.0112 · Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH)

Consumer-directed care: the participant hires and directs their own aide, with payroll handled for them; run as a 1915(c) home and community-based services waiver, paid fee-for-service.

Can family be paid?Not stated
How to get set up
Provider track · 6 steps
  1. FMS enrollment
  2. 5 more steps: forms, fees, timelines and links
Family / participant track · 11 steps
  1. Call for screening
  2. 10 more steps: forms, fees, timelines and links
Open the full checklist →
EligibilityServices coveredHours or budgetFamily caregiver rulesEmployer of recordFiscal intermediaryCaregiver requirementsProvider requirementsHow to become a providerPay rateEVVWaiting list or capRecent changesHow it differs, in detailSetup checklistUnlock the details →

Structured Family Caregiving (SFC)

Structured family caregiving

1915(c) waiver GA.0112 service (added 2019) · Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH)

Structured family caregiving: a live-in family caregiver paid a daily stipend, supported by an agency; run as a 1915(c) home and community-based services waiver, paid fee-for-service.

Can family be paid?Yes
How to get set up
Provider track · 7 steps
  1. Register the business
  2. 6 more steps: forms, fees, timelines and links
Family / participant track · 9 steps
  1. Call for screening
  2. 8 more steps: forms, fees, timelines and links
Open the full checklist →
EligibilityServices coveredHours or budgetFamily caregiver rulesEmployer of recordCaregiver requirementsProvider requirementsHow to become a providerPay rateWaiting list or capRecent changesHow it differs, in detailSetup checklistUnlock the details →

Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program (EDWP) — Community Care Services Program (CCSP) and SOURCE

Waiver in-home

1915(c) waiver GA.0112 · Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH); Area Agencies on Aging are the entry point

Waiver in-home services: supports at home for people who meet a nursing-home or similar level of care; run as a 1915(c) home and community-based services waiver, paid fee-for-service.

Can family be paid?No
How to get set up
Provider track · 8 steps
  1. Register the business
  2. 7 more steps: forms, fees, timelines and links
Family / participant track · 6 steps
  1. Call for screening
  2. 5 more steps: forms, fees, timelines and links
Open the full checklist →
EligibilityServices coveredHours or budgetFamily caregiver rulesEmployer of recordCaregiver requirementsProvider requirementsHow to become a providerPay rateEVVWaiting list or capRecent changesHow it differs, in detailSetup checklistUnlock the details →

Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP)

Waiver in-home

1915(c) waiver GA.4170 · Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH); a contracted medical management organization handles assessment, level of care and the wait list

Waiver in-home services: supports at home for people who meet a nursing-home or similar level of care; run as a 1915(c) home and community-based services waiver, paid fee-for-service.

Can family be paid?Yes
How to get set up
Provider track · 7 steps
  1. Register the business
  2. 6 more steps: forms, fees, timelines and links
Family / participant track · 6 steps
  1. Medicaid financial eligibility
  2. 5 more steps: forms, fees, timelines and links
Open the full checklist →
EligibilityServices coveredHours or budgetFamily caregiver rulesEmployer of recordFiscal intermediaryCaregiver requirementsProvider requirementsHow to become a providerPay rateEVVWaiting list or capRecent changesHow it differs, in detailSetup checklistUnlock the details →

New Options Waiver (NOW) and Comprehensive Supports Waiver (COMP) (NOW/COMP)

Waiver in-home

1915(c) waivers GA.0175 (NOW) and GA.0323 (COMP) · Georgia DCH (Medicaid agency) with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) as operating agency

Waiver in-home services: supports at home for people who meet a nursing-home or similar level of care; run as a 1915(c) home and community-based services waiver, paid fee-for-service.

Can family be paid?Yes
How to get set up
Provider track · 7 steps
  1. Register the business
  2. 6 more steps: forms, fees, timelines and links
Family / participant track · 7 steps
  1. Apply to DBHDD
  2. 6 more steps: forms, fees, timelines and links
Open the full checklist →
EligibilityServices coveredHours or budgetFamily caregiver rulesEmployer of recordFiscal intermediaryCaregiver requirementsProvider requirementsHow to become a providerPay rateEVVWaiting list or capRecent changesHow it differs, in detailSetup checklistUnlock the details →

Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)

PACE

PACE State Plan option (42 CFR Part 460) · Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH)

PACE: one organization covers medical care, a day center and home care for people 55 and over; run as the PACE benefit, delivered through managed-care plans.

Can family be paid?Not stated
How to get set up
Provider track · 4 steps
  1. Respond to the state RFP
  2. 3 more steps: forms, fees, timelines and links
Family / participant track · 5 steps
  1. Check service area
  2. 4 more steps: forms, fees, timelines and links
Open the full checklist →
EligibilityServices coveredEmployer of recordProvider requirementsHow to become a providerPay rateWaiting list or capRecent changesHow it differs, in detailSetup checklistUnlock the details →

Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Program — non-Medicaid

State-funded

State and federal aging funds (non-Medicaid) · Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Aging Services, through Area Agencies on Aging

State-funded home care: paid outside Medicaid, usually for people who do not qualify for it; paid fee-for-service.

Can family be paid?Not stated
How to get set up
Provider track · 3 steps
  1. Register the business
  2. 2 more steps: forms, fees, timelines and links
Family / participant track · 3 steps
  1. Contact the AAA
  2. 2 more steps: forms, fees, timelines and links
Open the full checklist →
EligibilityServices coveredEmployer of recordProvider requirementsHow to become a providerWaiting list or capHow it differs, in detailSetup checklistUnlock the details →

GAPP personal care services by legally responsible individuals

Other

1115 demonstration (Georgia Planning for Healthy Babies) expenditure authority for 1905(a) personal care by legally responsible individuals · Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH)

Another way the state pays for care at home; run as an 1115 demonstration, paid fee-for-service.

Can family be paid?Yes
How to get set up
Provider track · 9 steps
  1. Register the business
  2. 8 more steps: forms, fees, timelines and links
Family / participant track · 8 steps
  1. Medicaid financial eligibility
  2. 7 more steps: forms, fees, timelines and links
Open the full checklist →
EligibilityServices coveredHours or budgetFamily caregiver rulesEmployer of recordCaregiver requirementsProvider requirementsHow to become a providerPay rateEVVRecent changesHow it differs, in detailSetup checklistUnlock the details →
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Can family members get paid to be caregivers in Georgia?

Yes. Georgia Pediatric Program (GAPP), Structured Family Caregiving (SFC), Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP), New Options Waiver (NOW) and Comprehensive Supports Waiver (COMP) (NOW/COMP), and GAPP personal care services by legally responsible individuals let a family member be the paid caregiver. Which relatives qualify, including spouses and parents of minor children, is set program by program.

Does Georgia have consumer-directed care?

Yes: Consumer-Directed Personal Support Services (CD-PSS). The person receiving care hires and directs their own aide, and a fiscal intermediary handles payroll.

Does Georgia have structured family caregiving?

Yes: Structured Family Caregiving (SFC). A live-in family caregiver is paid a daily stipend, with an agency holding the Medicaid contract.

What is the difference between home health and home care in Georgia?

Home health (Georgia Pediatric Program (GAPP) and Home Health Services (HHA)) is medical: nursing, therapy and aide visits ordered by a practitioner and delivered by a licensed home health agency. Home care is non-medical help with daily activities, based on functional need.

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