Georgia · Waitlists

Georgia Medicaid waiver waitlist guide

"Is there a waitlist?" has two very different answers in Georgia depending on which program you mean. Katie Beckett has none — eligible children are entitled to coverage. The NOW and COMP waivers run through a DBHDD planning list of about 7,000 people (2024-2026 reporting).

Katie Beckett / TEFRA: no waitlist

Katie Beckett is a TEFRA state-plan option, not a capped HCBS waiver. If a child under 18 meets the institutional level of care and home care is cost-effective, coverage is an entitlement — there is no slot to wait for. The work is in the paperwork: a mail/fax packet to the Department of Community Health's centralized team in Norcross (with a new upload portal since April 15, 2026), physician forms on a 90-day clock, and a level-of-care review by Alliant Health Solutions.

Georgia Katie Beckett guide

NOW & COMP: the planning list

Georgia's NOW and COMP waivers for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are run by DBHDD and are capped, with an I/DD planning list of about 7,000 people (2024-2026 reporting). Families apply through the Individual IDD Connects portal at georgiacollaborative.com or by paper to one of six DBHDD field offices; intake is 1-888-273-1414. Getting on the planning list early — and keeping contact information current — matters.

Official DBHDD application page

What families can organize either way

• Which pathway fits: Katie Beckett entitlement now vs. NOW/COMP planning list — many families pursue both.
• Dates: when the packet was mailed, when the planning-list request went in, and every response received.
• Documents: evaluations, therapy notes, and hospital records that both pathways ask about.
• Follow-ups: portal status checks, calls to 678-248-7449 (Katie Beckett) or 1-888-273-1414 (DBHDD intake), and who said what.

Track my Georgia waiver steps How to apply for Katie Beckett

Official sources

Last reviewed by WaiverPath: July 2, 2026.

Medicaid.gov Home & Community Based ServicesFederal HCBS overview describing home and community-based services for Medicaid beneficiaries.Georgia DCH TEFRA/Katie Beckett program pageOfficial DCH program page for Katie Beckett / TEFRA with the application packet, submission instructions, and contacts.Georgia DFCS PAMMS Manual Section 2133 (TEFRA/Katie Beckett)Georgia eligibility policy manual section covering TEFRA/Katie Beckett rules, deeming, and processing.Katie Beckett Portal (DCH)Official DCH Katie Beckett portal (launched April 15, 2026) for document upload, status tracking, and secure messaging.Katie Beckett Medicaid Application (Form 94)Official Form 94 Medicaid application download from medicaid.georgia.gov.Pediatric DMA-6(A) Physician's RecommendationPhysician-completed DMA-6(A); every item must be answered and it is valid only 90 days from the physician's signature.DMA-706 Medical Necessity/Level of Care StatementTEFRA/Katie Beckett Medical Necessity/Level of Care Statement completed by the physician with the primary caregiver.DMA-704 Cost-Effectiveness FormTEFRA/Katie Beckett Cost-Effectiveness Form; the child's physician estimates monthly in-home Medicaid service costs.Georgia DBHDD: How do I apply for DD services (NOW/COMP)Official DBHDD page for NOW/COMP waiver applications via the Individual IDD Connects portal or a DBHDD field office; intake 1-888-273-1414.

WaiverPath is not a government agency, law firm, Medicaid provider, or benefits advisor. We help you organize information, documents, and follow-up tasks. Always verify requirements with the official agency or a qualified professional.