Skilled Pediatric Nursing for Medically Fragile Children Throughout Georgia
What Is Georgia Pediatric Program
The Georgia Pediatric Program (GAPP) provides in-home services for eligible medically fragile children who require skilled nursing or personal care support.
Integrity Home Care and Nursing Service Agency helps Georgia families understand the GAPP process and coordinates compassionate, professional pediatric care in the comfort of the child’s home.
Our experienced nurses support children with complex medical needs while helping parents navigate the process from initial consultation through authorization and the start of care.
What is the Georgia Pediatric Program?
The Georgia Pediatric Program, commonly called GAPP, is a Georgla Medicaid program that provides medically necessary in-home services for eligible children with significant medical needs.
GAPP is designed to help children receive appropriate care at home and in their communities rather than relying solely on institutional or facilitybased care.
Depending on the child’s approved needs, GAPP services may include skilled nursing services and personal care support
services.
Skilled nursing may be provided by licensed nurses, including Registered Nurses (RNS) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNS). according to the child’s authorized plan of care.
Georgia Medicaid specifically states that GAPP includes nursing services for skilled professional needs as well as personal care Support for activities of daily living.
Already have Georgia Medicaid?
You do not have to figure out the GAPP process alone. Georgia Medicaid directs families seeking GAPP services to contact a participating GAPP provider agency.
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Who May Qualify for GAPP in Georgia?
Every child’s situation is different, and that final eligibility and service authorization are determined by Georgia Medicaid.
A child may be considered for GAPP services when they have significant medical needs that require ongoing professional nursing or personal care support in the home.
Potential candidates may include children who:
Are eligible for Georgia Medicaid.
Have complex or medically fragile health needs.
Require skilled nursing or significant assistance at home.
Need ongoing monitoring or medical interventions.
Have physician-documented medical needs.
Require more individualized care than ordinary intermittent home health visits can provide.
Georgia’s Medicaid State Plan describes private duty nursing as skilled, continuous nursing provided when a member requires more individualized and continuous care than intermittent nursing services.
Not sure if your child qualifies?
Tell us about your child’s needs and our GAPP team can help you understand the next steps.
Pediatric Conditions and Complex Medical Needs We Support
Children receiving pediatric home nursing may have many different diagnosis and medical needs. GAPP eligibility is based on medical necessity and the child’s individual care needs-not simply the name of a diagnosis.
Depending on the authorized plan of care and the child’s condition, our pediatric nursing team may support chilren with needs involving:
- Tracheostomy care
- Ventillator support
- Oxygen therapy
- CPAP or BIPAP
- G-tube and enternal feeding
- Seizure disorders and epilepsy
- Neurological disorders
- Respiratory conditions
- Central lines
- TPN
- Colostomy or ileostomy care
- Mobility limitations
- Paralysis
- Complex medication needs
- Multiple-system medical conditions
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Georgia Pediatric Program (GAPP) Frequently Ask Questions
What does GAPP stand for?
GAPP stands for the Georgia Pediatric Program, a Georgia Medicaid program serving eligible medically fragile children who need certain services in their homes and communities.
What Services does GAPP Provide?
Depending on medical necessity and authorization, GAPP may provide skilled nursing services and personal care support services. Georgia Medicaid specifically identifies both types of services within the program.
Does my child need Medicaid for GAPP?
GAPP is a Georgia Medicaid program, so Medicaid eligibility is an important [art of receiving covered GAPP services.
Does Katie Beckett Medical qualify my child for GAPP?
Katie Beckett may provide Medicaid coverage to certain qualifying children with disabilities. However, GAPP services require their own medical-necessity and authorization determination. Katie Beckett coverage does not automatically guarantee GAPP approval.
Can parents choose their GAPP provider?
Georgia Medicaid instructs families seeking GAPP services to contact a GAPP provider agency directly. Families can therefore research and contact participating providers regarding services.
Does having a certain diagnosis automatically qualify my child?
No. Medical diagnosis alone should not be presented as automatic GAPP qualification. The child’s individual medical needs, Medical status, supporting documentations and applicable authorization requirements matter.
Can GAPP provide RN or LPN nursing at home?
RN services may be appropriate for children with more complex or unstable medical needs and can include skilled assessments, care-plan management, and specialized nursing procedures.
LPN services can provide hands-on skilled care under the appropriate supervision and care plan, depending on the child’s medical needs.
GAPP is specifically designed for medically fragile children under age 21 who require medically necessary skilled nursing and/or personal care services. Services are provided in the child’s home and community.
“Through Georgia’s Pediatric Program (GAPP), eligible medically fragile children may receive skilled RN or LPN nursing care in the comfort of their own home. Our nurses provide individualized care based on each child’s physician-ordered plan and medical needs.”
Why Georgia Families Choose Integrity for Pediatric Home Nursing
Choosing a pediatric home nursing agency is an important decision. Your child needs more than someone who understands nursing-they need caregivers who understand the responsibility of entering your family’s home.
At the Integrity Home Care and Nursing Service Agency, our focus is providing dependable, compassionate care while making the GAPP process easier for families to understand.
*Then use six visual boxes*
Pediatric- Focused Nursing
Experienced nursing professionals supporting children with complex medical needs.
RN & LPN Care
Licensed nursing based on the child’s authorized plan of care.
In-Home care
Care delivered where children are often most comfortable-their own home.
Family Communication
Parents remain an important part of their children’s care.
GAPP Assistance
Our team helps families understand the provider-side process and required documentation.
Serving Georgia Families
Supporting eligible families across the areas we serve throughout Georgia.
How to Get GAPP Services in Georgia
Step 1 – Contact Integrity
Start with a free consultation. Tell us about your child’s current medical needs, Medicaid coverage and home-care needs.
Step 2 – Initial Review
Our team reviews the information you provide and helps determine whether pursuing GAPP services may be appropriate.
Step 3 – Clinical Documentation
The process may require medical records, physician documentation, orders, assessment and other information necessary to establish medical necessity.
Step 4 – Request for Authorization
Required information is submitted for review through the appropriate Georgia Medicaid process.
Step 5 – Medicaid Determines Approval
Georgia Medicaid ultimately determines eligibility, authorization and the type or amount covered services.
Step 6 – Begin Care
Once services are properly authorized and staffing are arranged, Integrity coordinates the approved in-home care.
We can help you understand the process.
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GAPP, Georgia Medicaid and Katie Beckett
GAPP services are provided through Georgia Medicaid, so Medicaid eligibility is an important part of accessing the program.
Some children receive Medicaid through traditional eligibility pathways. Other children with significant disabilities or medical needs may qualify for Medicaid through Georgia’s TEFRA/KATIE BECKETT Medical Program.
Katie Beckett allows Georgia to disregard parental income when determining Medicaid eligibility for certain qualifying children with disabilities who meet specific requirements.
However, Katie Beckett and GAPP service eligibility are separate determination. Receiving Katie Beckett Medicaid does not automatically guarantee approval for GAPP nursing services.
Georgia currently describes Katie Beckett as a Medicaid program for certain qualifying children with disabilities who live at home, with eligibility based on specific level-of-care requirements rather than the diagnosis alone.
GAPP Pediatric Skill Nursing Services
When a child has complex medical needs, having experienced nursing support at home can make an enormous difference for both the child and the family.
Integrity provides pediatric skilled nursing according to each child’s physician orders, approved services and individualized plan of care.
Depending on the child’s authorized needs, nursing services may include:
- Tracheostomy monitoring care
- Ventilator support
- Suctioning
- Respiratory treatments
- Oxygen monitoring
- G-tube care and tube feeding
- Medication and administration
- Seizure monitoring
- Vital-sign monitoring
- Central-line care
- TPN support
- Ostomy care
- Neurological monitoring
- Patient and family education
- Coordination with the child’s healthcare team
Our goal is to provide safe, dependable pediatric nursing while helping children remain comfortable in their own homes.
H2:
GAPP Personal Care Support Services
Some eligible children may also require assistance with activities of daily living and other personal care needs.
Depending on the child’s approved services, support may include:
- Bathing
- Dressing
- Grooming
- Hygiene
- Feeding assistance
- Toileting and incontinence care
- Mobility assistance
- Transfers and repositioning
- Wheelchair assistance
- Assistance with other authorized activities of daily living
Georgia Medicaid recognizes personal care support as part of the GAPP service structure for eligible members.
Private duty nursing may involve care from licensed Registered Nurses or Licensed Practical Nurses when medically necessary and authorized. Georgia’s Medicaid State Plan describes continuous skilled nursing as being provided by licensed RNs or LPNs under appropriate supervision.
Does GAPP cover trach, ventilator or G-tube care?
Children requiring those types of interventions may require skilled pediatric nursing. The actual services and hours authorized depend on the child’s individual medical needs and approved plan of care.
How long does GAPP approval take?
Processing times can vary depending on the child’s circumstances, completeness of documentation, medical review, and authorization process. Integrity can help families move through the provider-side process as efficiently as possible, but we should not promise a specific time approval.
What if my child doesn’t currently have Medicaid?
Talk with our team about your situation. Some families may need to explore Georgia Medicaid eligibility first. Georgia also offers the TEFRA/KATIE BECKETT Medicaid program for certain qualifying children with disabilities.
No Wait List
- This program is not a waiver service, which will allow your child to receive services immediately following service approval.
- Intake and evaluation typically takes up to 30 days for service approval.
- Parents are involved with the development of their child’s service plan of treatment along with any service goals.
Our company is dedicated to bringing you quality service as quickly as possible so that your child can begin receiving care immediately without the wait.
