Georgia CCSP: Community Care Services Program Explained

Georgia's Community Care Services Program (CCSP) operates as a Medicaid 1915(c) Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waiver. This program is specifically designed to offer an alternative to nursing home placement for frail elderly and disabled Georgians. Individuals must meet nursing facility level of care criteria to be eligible for CCSP services.

The Georgia Department of Community Health's Division of Medical Assistance Plans partners with the Division of Aging Services within the Department of Human Services for the operational management of CCSP. It falls under the umbrella of the broader Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program (EDWP), which also includes its companion waiver, Service Options Using Resources in a Community Environment (SOURCE).

While both CCSP and SOURCE target similar populations, they have distinct differences. SOURCE is generally for individuals who qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid, often with more complex health needs, and it bundles primary medical care coordination. In contrast, CCSP has more flexible income requirements and focuses on assisting with daily tasks without necessarily integrating primary medical care into the waiver. For 2026, CCSP recipients generally have a monthly income limit of $2901. It is important to note that CCSP is not the same as Georgia's standard state Medicaid, known as Aged, Blind, and Disabled (ABD) Medicaid, which operates under different rules.

Personal Support Services provide in-home assistance with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, transferring, and eating. These services also cover mobility, meal preparation, light housekeeping, and shopping for groceries. Participants can self-direct their personal support services, allowing them to choose their own caregiver. Eligible family members, excluding spouses and parents of minor children, can be hired for this role. A financial management services agency handles employment responsibilities like background checks and caregiver payments.

Homemaker Services include light housekeeping, laundry, and meal preparation. These services help maintain a safe and comfortable home environment.

Adult Day Health Services are offered at licensed centers, providing supervised daytime medical care and planned therapeutic activities. This can include physical, occupational, and speech therapy, along with meals, including prescribed diets.

Skilled Nursing Services are provided in the home by licensed professionals. These services may include wound care, medication management, and monitoring chronic illnesses.

Emergency Response Systems offer an in-home electronic support system with 24/7 two-way communication to a medical control center, allowing calls for help in an emergency.

Home-Delivered Meals provide nutritionally balanced meals directly to the participant's home. Modified meals are available to meet special dietary needs.

Respite Care offers temporary relief for family caregivers. Out-of-Home Respite provides temporary care in an approved facility, such as a personal care home or adult day health center, with 24-hour supervision.

Assistive Technology may be provided as a benefit. Alternative Living Services in Personal Care Homes cover around-the-clock supervision, personal care, and nursing supervision in state-licensed facilities for individuals unable to remain independently at home. This service covers care only, not room and board.

Applicants for Georgia's Community Care Services Program (CCSP) must be age 65 or older, or be an adult with a physical disability under age 65. Individuals who enroll before age 65 can continue to receive benefits after their 65th birthday.

Financial eligibility for CCSP in 2026 requires an individual applicant's monthly income to be less than $2,982. This income limit is set at 300% of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Federal Benefit Rate, which is $994 per month for a single individual in 2026. The asset limit for an individual applicant is $2,000 in countable assets. For a married applicant with a healthy spouse, the Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA) permits the non-applicant spouse to retain up to $162,660 in countable assets in 2026. This is an increase from $157,920 in 2025.

Functional eligibility requires applicants to meet a Nursing Facility Level of Care (NFLOC). This is determined through an assessment, such as the Minimum Data Set Home Care (MDS-HC), which evaluates the need for assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs), or the presence of cognitive impairment. A physician must concur that NFLOC is necessary.

Applicants must also be Georgia Medicaid recipients under Aged, Blind, or Disabled (ABD) Medicaid, or qualify through the waiver's expanded income rules. Georgia is an income-cap state, meaning if an applicant's income exceeds the $2,982 monthly limit, a Qualified Income Trust (QIT), also known as a Miller Trust, is required. Income placed into an irrevocable QIT is not counted toward the Medicaid income cap, allowing the applicant to become financially eligible.

The Georgia Community Care Services Program (CCSP) application process begins by contacting the Georgia Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) at 1-866-552-4464 or the local Area Agency on Aging. This initial step serves as the official entry point for individuals seeking home and community-based services.

Next, a preliminary telephone screening determines potential eligibility for the program. This screening assesses if an applicant meets the initial criteria for CCSP services.

If financial eligibility has not yet been established, individuals must apply for Georgia Medicaid through the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS). Applications can be submitted online at www.gateway.ga.gov or by calling 1-877-423-4746. Medicaid approval is a necessary precursor for CCSP, as it operates as a Medicaid waiver program.

Following the preliminary screening and financial determination, a state-contracted assessor conducts an in-home functional assessment. This assessment, often utilizing the Determination of Need Functional Assessment-Revised (DON-R), evaluates the individual's physical limitations and need for an intermediate nursing facility level of care.

Upon approval for CCSP, a case manager is assigned. This professional collaborates with the individual and their family to develop a comprehensive, personalized care plan, incorporating family input to address specific needs.

Services commence once the care plan is approved and appropriate providers are identified and lined up. The typical timeline from the first contact to the initiation of services generally spans 2 to 4 months. More complex cases may require additional time for processing.

The Community Care Services Program is not an entitlement program, meaning there are a limited number of enrollment slots. When these slots are full, a waitlist for program participation forms, with placement on the waitlist determined by an applicant's need for supportive services.

Georgia’s Community Care Services Program (CCSP) operates with enrollment limits, meaning it is not an entitlement program and maintains a waitlist for services. This differs from nursing home Medicaid, which does not have a waitlist.

The size of the CCSP waitlist varies, as program slots are limited. Priority for placement on the waitlist is determined by the severity of an individual's medical and functional needs, rather than a first-come, first-served basis. Seniors at the highest risk of nursing home placement are prioritized for enrollment. The waitlist moves as existing participants lose eligibility for services or pass away.

While waiting for CCSP services, families can explore other options. Nursing home Medicaid does not have a waitlist and is an immediate entitlement for eligible individuals. Another alternative is the Services Options Using Resources in Community Environments (SOURCE) waiver, which provides similar home and community-based services. SOURCE has a more restrictive income limit, at approximately $994 per month for an individual in 2026, compared to CCSP's individual income limit of $2,982 per month in 2026.

For families facing an immediate crisis, Georgia has a process for expedited review. Emergency admissions to CCSP are determined on a case-by-case basis and can be placed into service immediately, provided they meet the same eligibility requirements as all other admissions.

Georgia's Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program (EDWP) offers two primary home and community-based service waivers: Community Care Services Program (CCSP) and Service Options Using Resources in a Community Environment (SOURCE). Both programs are part of the EDWP umbrella and require a nursing facility level of care (NFLOC) for eligibility. These waivers serve elderly individuals aged 65 and older, as well as physically disabled adults under 65.

SOURCE integrates primary medical care through a Service Coordinator and provides a service menu similar to CCSP, including personal support, home health, and emergency response services. SOURCE income eligibility is tied to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) levels, making it more financially restrictive than CCSP. For 2026, the maximum monthly SSI payment for an eligible individual is $994, and $1,491 for an eligible couple. While SOURCE enrollment is limited, the application process is similar to other EDWP waivers, typically starting with the Area Agency on Aging. This waiver is a good fit for lower-income seniors with complex medical needs who benefit from the care coordination component.

CCSP is often the first waiver families consider due to its broader income eligibility. For 2026, the countable monthly income limit for an individual applying for CCSP is $2,982. A family cannot be enrolled in both CCSP and SOURCE waivers simultaneously.