Katie Beckett Medicaid in Georgia: A Guide for Families of Children with Disabilities

Many Georgia parents hear the same frustrating answer when they ask about help for a child with a serious disability or medical condition: "Your household makes too much money for Medicaid." Private insurance may cover some of the care, but it rarely covers all of it. Deductibles, therapy limits, equipment denials, and the cost of in-home nursing can add up quickly.

Georgia's Katie Beckett program exists for exactly this situation. It allows a child with significant needs to qualify for Medicaid based on the child's own needs and income, not the parents' income. For many families, it is the door that opens access to home nursing, therapies, equipment, and programs like GAPP.

This guide explains who qualifies, how to apply, and what to expect once your child is enrolled.

What Is Katie Beckett Medicaid?

Katie Beckett is a Medicaid eligibility pathway, sometimes called TEFRA after the 1982 federal law that created it. It is named after Katie Beckett, a young girl from Iowa who had to remain in a hospital for years because her family would lose her Medicaid coverage if she came home. Her family's advocacy led to a federal change that lets states cover children at home when their care needs would otherwise qualify them for an institution.

In Georgia, the program is administered by the Department of Community Health (DCH), with eligibility handled by a Centralized Katie Beckett Medicaid Team within the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS).

Katie Beckett is not a separate service program. It is a way for your child to get full Georgia Medicaid coverage, which then opens the door to the services Medicaid pays for.

Who Qualifies in Georgia?

According to Georgia Medicaid, a child may qualify for Katie Beckett when they:

• Are 18 or younger. Coverage can continue through the month the child turns 19.
• Meet the federal definition of disability used by the Social Security Administration.
• Live at home rather than in a hospital, nursing facility, or other institution.
• Need an institutional level of care. The child's needs must be serious enough that they would otherwise qualify for care in a hospital, nursing facility, or intermediate care facility for people with intellectual disabilities.
• Can be cared for safely at home, and the cost of care at home is not more than the cost of institutional care.

Diagnosis Alone Does Not Decide Eligibility

One of the most common misunderstandings is that a particular diagnosis automatically qualifies a child. It does not. Georgia bases the decision on the level of care your child requires, not on a medical label. Two children with the same diagnosis can receive different decisions because their day-to-day needs are different.

That is why clear, detailed medical documentation matters so much. Families often see the best results when physicians, therapists, and school staff describe what the child actually needs help with every day: feeding, breathing support, seizures, mobility, behavior, communication, and supervision.

Parent Income Is Not Counted

For eligible children, the state disregards the family's income. Only the child's own income and resources are considered. This is what makes Katie Beckett so valuable for working families who would never qualify for regular Medicaid.

How to Apply for Katie Beckett in Georgia

The application has two parts: a Medicaid application completed by the parent or guardian, and medical documents completed by your child's providers.

Step 1: Gather the Medical Forms

Your child's treating physician completes the key clinical forms, including the Pediatric DMA-6(A) and a Medical Necessity / Level of Care Statement. A Cost Effectiveness Form is also part of the packet. Therapists, specialists, and school professionals can add supporting records such as evaluations, IEPs, therapy notes, and recent hospital records.

Step 2: Submit the Application

Families can apply:

• Online through Georgia Gateway at gateway.ga.gov
• By phone, mail, or fax through the Centralized Katie Beckett Medicaid Team at (678) 248-7449
• In person at your county DFCS office

Before mailing anything, call the Centralized Team or check the Georgia Medicaid Katie Beckett page to confirm the current mailing address. Older addresses, including a former P.O. box, are no longer accepted.

Step 3: Use the New Online Portal

In April 2026, Georgia launched a Katie Beckett online portal for families. Through the portal you can upload documents, check the status of an application or renewal, view checklists of what is still needed, and send secure messages to your caseworker. Applicants receive an email with instructions to set up an account.

Tips for a Stronger Application

Families who have been through the process often share the same advice:

• Be specific about daily care. Instead of "needs help eating," describe tube feedings, how long they take, and what happens if they are missed.
• Include recent records. Hospital discharge summaries, specialist notes, and therapy evaluations from the past year carry the most weight.
• Keep copies of everything. Save a copy of every form and note the date you submitted it.
• Respond quickly to requests. If DFCS asks for more information, a fast response keeps the application moving.
• Ask for help. Hospital social workers, pediatric case managers, and parent support groups like Parent to Parent of Georgia can guide you through the forms.

Renewals and Ongoing Coverage

Katie Beckett coverage must be renewed, and you will need updated medical information when you do. Georgia has announced that a level-of-care determination found to meet the standard will be authorized for no less than two years, which reduces the paperwork burden for many families. Watch your mail and the online portal for renewal notices, and start gathering updated records early.

If your child's application or renewal is denied, you have the right to request a fair hearing. Read the denial notice carefully, because it lists the deadline to appeal.

Planning for Age 19

Katie Beckett coverage ends after the month your child turns 19. Begin planning well before that birthday. Depending on your young adult's needs, options may include SSI-related Medicaid, the NOW and COMP waivers for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, or, beginning at age 21, the Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP) for adults with physical disabilities or traumatic brain injuries. Your support coordinator or case manager can help map out the transition.

What Katie Beckett Can Open Up for Your Child

Once your child has Medicaid through Katie Beckett, they can access Medicaid services they are medically eligible for. For many families, that includes:

• In-home skilled nursing through the Georgia Pediatric Program (GAPP) for children with complex medical needs such as tracheostomies, ventilators, feeding tubes, or frequent seizures
• Therapies such as physical, occupational, and speech therapy
• Durable medical equipment and supplies
• Coverage that works alongside private insurance, with Medicaid often helping with costs your primary insurance does not cover

Families caring for aging parents as well as children sometimes ask about senior programs too. The Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program (EDWP) serves older adults and people with disabilities who need nursing-home-level care at home.

You Do Not Have to Figure This Out Alone

The Katie Beckett application can feel overwhelming, especially when you are already managing appointments, medications, and the everyday work of caring for a child with complex needs. But thousands of Georgia families have used this pathway to bring their children home and keep them there safely.

At Heart and Soul Healthcare, we work with families across Georgia every day. If your child has Medicaid through Katie Beckett, or you are in the process of applying, we are happy to talk through how in-home nursing through GAPP could support your family.