The Community Care Services Program

THE COMMUNITY CARE SERVICES PROGRAM

What is the Community Care Services Program?

The Community Care Services Program (CCSP) helps people who are elderly and/or functionally impaired to continue living in their homes and communities. For elderly and/or functionally impaired people, CCSP offers community-based care as an alternative to nursing home placement. The Division of Aging Services, a Division of the Department of Human Resources, administers CCSP.

Out-of-Home Respite Care Out-of-home overnight respite care in an approved
facility with 24-hour supervision Out-of-home respite care in an approved facility
Home Delivered Meals Prepared outside the home and delivered to the
client

What services are available through this program? Who is eligible for Community Care Services?

Adult Day Health Daytime care and supervision in an adult day
center Nursing and medical social services Planned therapeutic activities Physical, speech, and occupational therapy Meals, including prescribed diets
Alternative Living Services Alternative residence for persons unable to remain
independent in their own homes Meals, personal care, and supervision
Emergency Response Services In-home electronic support system providing two-
way communication between isolated persons and a medical control center Service available 24 hours a day, seven days a week
Home-Delivered Services Skilled nursing services Physical, speech and occupational therapy Medical social services and home health aide
assistance Personal care and help with meals Medically related transportation

The eligibility criteria for CCSP include the following: Functional impairment caused by physical
limitations
NOTE: Alzheimer's and dementia are physical
conditions. Unmet need for care Approval of care plan by applicant /client's
physician Services fall within the average annual cost of
Medicaid reimbursed care provided in a nursing
facility Approval of an intermediate (LOC)
certification for nursing home placement Medicaid eligible or potentially eligible after
admission to CCSP Client chooses community-based, rather than
institutional services Health and safety needs can be met by CCSP Participation in one waiver program at a time No participation in Medicare or Medicaid Hospice
programs Medicare home health services does not meet their
needs Home Delivered Meals is not the only service need The home environment is free of illegal behavior
and threats of bodily harm to other persons.

Personal Support Services Assistance with meal preparation, hygiene and
nutrition Light housekeeping, shopping, and other support
services In-home respite care provided by an aide

A client is not required to be homebound to receive CCSP services.
(over)

How does an individual obtain Community Care Services?
Step 1: The individual contacts the Area Agency on Aging for an assessment.
Step 2: If the individual is eligible for CCSP, the care coordinator determines which services the applicant needs.
How are services arranged?
Step 1: The care coordinator arranges for CCSP service agencies to provide the needed services.

Service agencies are approved Medicaid providers who bill the Department of Community Health directly for services rendered to Community Care participants. Care coordinators also arrange for services through other service agencies and fund sources.
Step 2: If the individual is not a Medicaid recipient, she/he applies for Medicaid at the county Department of Family and Children Services.
Step 3: The care coordinator maintains regular contact with the Community Care participants to assure that services are appropriate and that individuals' needs are met.

What are the financial eligibility requirements?

The following information summarizes the financial eligibility criteria for the CCSP:
SSI category: Persons who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and are eligible for medical assistance. The Social Security Administration takes applications for SSI.
Medical Assistance Only (MAO) Category: Persons who do not receive cash benefits under the SSI program, but may qualify for medical assistance under another Medicaid category. The county Departments of Family and Children Services take applications for MAO. MAO participants may have to pay toward the cost of services.

Individual

SSI Income Limits:* Below $545/ Month

CCSP Medicaid/ MAO Income Limits: $1,635/month

SSI and CCSP Medicaid Resource Limits: $2,000 or less

Couple (both in CCSP)

Below $817/ Month

$1,635/month per individual

$3,000 or less

Individual in CCSP, But married

Below $817/ Month

$1,635/month

$2,000 or less for SSI $91,280 (combined) or less for CCSP Medicaid

*These limits change when Social Security Administration increases Social Security and SSI.
A CCSP Medicaid eligible person may divert up to $2,232.00 per month of income to a legal spouse who is neither in the CCSP nor an institution.

If the CCSP Medicaid applicant has a spouse who is neither in CCSP nor an institution, the assets of the spouse MUST be considered in the eligibility determination. The total combined assets of the individual and the spouse must be $91,280 or less. The CCSP client must transfer assets in his/her name in excess of $2,000 to the community spouse within one year from the month Medicaid eligibility begins.

Community Care Services Program (CCSP)
Lead Agency and Geographic Service Areas

Listed below are Georgia's 12 planning and service areas. The lead agencies, called Area Agency on Aging (AAA), coordinate a variety of services and information for the elderly including CCSP. The AAA serves as program's entry point, determines both client eligibility and the type of services needed by eligible individuals.

ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION CCSP Information- (404) 463-3244 (Atlanta) Area Agency on Aging- (404) 463-3100(Atlanta) Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Rockdale, and Henry.
CENTRAL SAVANNAH RIVER CCSP Information- 1-888-922-4464 or (706) 210-2018 Area Agency on Aging (706) 210-2018 (Augusta) Burke, Columbia, Glascock, Hancock, Jefferson, Jenkins, Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond, Screven, Taliaferro, Warren, Washington and Wilkes.
COASTAL CCSP Information - 1-800-580-6860-ext.230 (Brunswick) Area Agency on Aging- (912) 264-7363 (Brunswick) Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long and McIntosh.
GEORGIA MOUNTAINS CCSP Information- 1-800-845-LINK or (770) 538-2650 Area Agency on Aging - (770) 538-2650 (Gainesville) Banks, Dawson, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union and White.
HEART OF GEORGIA /ALTAMAHA CCSP Information - 1-888-367-9913 or (912) 367-3648 Area Agency on Aging - (912) 367-3648 (Baxley) Appling, Bleckley, Candler, Dodge, Emanuel, Evans, Jeff Davis, Johnson, Laurens, Montgomery, Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Wayne, Wheeler and Wilcox.
MIDDLE GEORGIA CCSP Information- (478) 751-6466 Area Agency on Aging (478) 751-6160 (Macon) Baldwin, Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Jones, Monroe, Peach, Pulaski, Putnam, Twiggs and Wilkinson.

NORTHWEST GEORGIA (formerly Coosa Valley/North Georgia CCSP Information - 1-800-759-2963 or (706) 802-5506 Area Agency on Aging- (706) 295-6485 Bartow, Catoosa, Chattoga, Dade, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Haralson, Murray, Paulding, Pickins, Polk, Walker and Whitfield.
SOUTH /SOUTHEAST GEORGIA CCSP Information- (912) 287-5888 or 1-888-732-4464 Area Agency on Aging - (912) 285-6097(Waycross) Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Charlton, Clinch, Coffee, Cook, Echols, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Pierce, Tift, Turner and Ware.
Southern Crescent- (formerly Chat-Flint/ McIntosh Trail) CCSP Information-(706) 675-6721 or (770) 854-6026 Area Agency on Aging - (706) 675-6721(Franklin)
(770) 854-6026 (Atlanta) Butts, Carroll, Coweta, Heard, Lamar, Meriwether, Pike, Spalding, Troup and Upson.
SOUTHWEST GEORGIA CCSP Information- (229) 432-1124 (Albany) Area Agency on Aging- (229) 432-1124 (Albany) Baker, Calhoun, Colquitt, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Lee, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Terrell, Thomas and Worth.
WEST CENTRAL (formerly Lower Chat/M. Flint) CCSP Information- (706) 649-7494 or 1-800-615-4379 Area Agency on Aging- (706) 649-7468 (Columbus) Chattahoochee, Clay, Crisp, Dooly, Harris, Macon, Marion, Muscogee, Quitman, Randolph, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor and Webster.

NORTHEAST GEORGIA CCSP Information-1-800-474-7540 or (706) 583-2546 Area Agency on Agency - (706) 369-5650 (Athens) Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Jasper, Madison, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe and Walton.

Georgia Department of Human Resources Division of Aging Services revised January 14, 2002 Ccsp\brochure JF