Respite Care Services in Georgia offer short-term, temporary care and supervision for individuals with disabilities, chronic illnesses, or age-related conditions. These services are authorized under Georgia’s Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver programs, providing essential relief to family caregivers while ensuring individuals continue to receive safe, person-centered support.

1. GOVERNING AGENCIES

Agency: Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD)
Role: Administers Respite Services for individuals with developmental disabilities through the NOW and COMP waivers

Agency: Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH)
Role: Oversees Medicaid enrollment, service authorization, and reimbursement for Respite Care Services

Agency: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Role: Provides federal oversight ensuring Respite Services meet Medicaid HCBS standards

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2. RESPITE CARE SERVICE OVERVIEW

Respite Care Services provide substitute care and supervision for a participant on a short-term basis to relieve the usual caregiver.

Approved providers may deliver:

• In-home respite (participant’s residence)
• Out-of-home respite (in a licensed facility, community setting, or provider’s home where permitted)
• Daytime or overnight supervision and personal care
• Emergency respite during caregiver crises
• Scheduled respite based on the family’s planned needs

Support may include assistance with:

• Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) like bathing, dressing, grooming, and toileting
• Mobility assistance and medication reminders (non-skilled nursing)
• Meal preparation and feeding assistance
• Recreational, social, or community activities
• Health and safety monitoring

All services must follow the participant’s Individual Service Plan (ISP) and cannot duplicate services being provided simultaneously under other authorized programs.

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3. LICENSING & PROVIDER APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS

Prerequisites:

• Register business with the Georgia Secretary of State
• Obtain EIN from the IRS and NPI (Type 2)
• Enroll as a Medicaid provider through the Georgia Medicaid Management Information System (GAMMIS)
• Complete DBHDD Provider Enrollment for Respite Services
• Maintain general liability and professional liability insurance
• If providing facility-based respite, meet DBHDD or DCH facility licensing requirements
• Develop comprehensive policies for caregiver relief, participant health and safety, and emergency response

4. DBHDD/DCH PROVIDER ENROLLMENT PROCESS

Initial Interest and Application:

• Submit a Letter of Intent to DBHDD to offer Respite Services
• Complete pre-qualification checklist including business registration, staff qualifications, and insurance documentation

Application and Documentation Submission:

• Submit Articles of Incorporation, proof of EIN/NPI, policies and procedures for respite care, staff credentialing documents, and participant intake forms
• Provide emergency protocols, scheduling templates, and service tracking systems

Program Readiness Review:

• DBHDD reviews provider readiness to deliver Respite Services, including participant safety protocols, staff training, and documentation systems

Approval & Medicaid Enrollment:

• Upon DBHDD approval, complete Medicaid enrollment through GAMMIS
• Configure billing codes for Respite Services (hourly, daily, or session-based depending on the model)

5. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

• Articles of Incorporation or Business License (Georgia Secretary of State)
• IRS EIN confirmation
• NPI confirmation
• Proof of general and professional liability insurance

DBHDD-Compliant Policy & Procedure Manual including:

• Participant intake, service authorization, and emergency contact protocols
• Service delivery, health monitoring, and personal care assistance procedures
• Documentation systems for scheduling, daily notes, and incident tracking
• Emergency response plans and after-hours support systems
• Client rights, HIPAA confidentiality, and grievance resolution policies
• Staff background screening, credentialing, and training documentation
• Medicaid billing, service authorization tracking, and audit readiness systems

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6. STAFFING REQUIREMENTS

Role: Respite Services Manager / Program Coordinator
Requirements: Experience managing personal care or community support services preferred; background screening clearance

Role: Respite Caregivers / Direct Support Professionals (DSPs)
Requirements: High school diploma or GED, CPR/First Aid certification, background screening clearance

All staff must complete:

• Person-centered care, participant rights, and HIPAA confidentiality training
• Emergency response, first aid, and abuse prevention training
• Service documentation and incident reporting training
• Annual refresher training on Medicaid compliance and participant safety

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7. MEDICAID WAIVER SERVICES

The following Georgia Medicaid Waivers authorize Respite Care Services:

• Comprehensive Supports Waiver Program (COMP)
• New Options Waiver Program (NOW)
• Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program (EDWP) (for aging populations needing caregiver relief)

Approved providers may deliver:

• Scheduled in-home or facility-based respite care
• Emergency respite based on critical caregiver needs
• Overnight or daytime care with health and safety monitoring

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8. TIMELINE TO LAUNCH

Phase: Business Formation and Initial Setup
Timeline: 1–2 weeks

Phase: DBHDD Provider Application and Readiness Review
Timeline: 60–90 days

Phase: Staff Hiring, Credentialing, and Service Documentation Setup
Timeline: 30–45 days

Phase: Medicaid Enrollment and Billing Configuration
Timeline: 45–60 days

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9. CONTACT INFORMATION

Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD)
Website: https://dbhdd.georgia.gov/

Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH)
Website: https://dch.georgia.gov/

Georgia Medicaid Management Information System (GAMMIS)
Website: https://www.mmis.georgia.gov/

10. SCOPE OF WORK

• Business registration and EIN/NPI setup
• DBHDD and Medicaid provider enrollment support
• Development of Respite Services Policy & Procedure Manual
• Staff credentialing templates and participant intake documentation
• Medicaid billing system setup and claims management
• Website, domain, and email setup
• Participant intake, scheduling, and daily service documentation templates
• Emergency response planning and incident reporting systems
• Quality assurance programs for service delivery monitoring
• Community referral and caregiver network building strategies

WAIVER CONSULTING GROUP’S START-UP ASSISTANCE SERVICE — GEORGIA RESPITE CARE SERVICES PROVIDER

We support respite providers, personal care agencies, and direct support organizations in launching Medicaid-compliant Respite Care Services under Georgia’s HCBS waiver programs.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

To get started, click the link to request portal access.