A snapshot of Georgia: Independent Care Waiver Program, a program of the Georgia Department of Community Health [Feb. 2008]

A Program Of The Georgia Department Of Community Health
A SNAPSHOT OF GEORGIA
Independent Care Waiver Program

Overview

Services Provided

The Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP) offers services that help a limited number of adult Medicaid recipients with physical disabilities live in their own homes or in the community instead of a hospital or nursing home. ICWP services also are available for persons with traumatic brain injuries (TBI). The program operates under a Home and Community Based Waiver (1915(c)) granted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.
Eligibility Criteria
Independent Care is for eligible Medicaid recipients who have severe physical disabilities, are between the ages of 21 and 64 when they apply and meet the criteria below:
Capable of directing their own services (individuals with a TBI do not have to meet this criteria); Have a severe physical impairment and/or TBI that substantially limits one or more activities of daily living and requires the assistance of another individual; Medically stable but currently in a hospital or nursing facility or at risk of placement because community-based support services are not available; and Certified for a level of care appropriate for placement in a hospital or nursing facility.

As appropriate to their asessed needs, members are offered service coordination, personal support, home health, emergency response, respite, specialized medical equipment and supplies, counseling, and/or home modification ICWP does not pay for room and board Families and their case manager work together as a planning team to establish a plan of care. The plan assesses your present circumstances, strengths, needs, goals, services required, a listing of the providers selected and projected budget. Funds must be available to serve you for the plan to be approved by the state Medicaid agency

Other factors, including: risk of placement in an institution, length of

Enrollment

time on the waiting list, availability of a support system, ability to live independently and an estimated cost of care (based on the projected care plan) also help determine whether eligible applicants can receive waiver services.

ICWP served 850 people in FY07. Many individuals enrolled in the program have been transitioned out of nursing facilities and back into

the community.

People who are considering nursing home or other institutional care may

be eligible for home and community-based services as an alternative through Georgia's Medicaid waiver

program.

In order to qualify for the waiver programs, the individual must first meet the criteria for Medicaid payment in an institution and certain other criteria as outlined below. The person is then offered the choice between community-based services or institutional care as long as the community services do not cost more than the institutional care.

2 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, Ga 30303 www.dch.georgia.gov

February 2008

A Snapshot Of Independent Care Waiver Program
How to Apply for ICWP
To apply for ICWP, contact the Georgia Health Partnership (GHP) at 678-527-3632 or 1-800-982-0411. GHP will ask potential recipients questions over the phone, have them submit an application and schedule an in-person assessment. Based on the information provided, people may be eligible for ICWP and approved to receive services as funding becomes available. Expenditures
Expenditures in FY07 totaled $30 million.
ICWP Update
Consumer directed care was implemented in the program in October 2005. The current number of people using this option is 54.