Georgia legislation · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Georgia HB1238: Community Health, Department of; submit a waiver request to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to authorize the qualification of certain caregivers for Medicaid reimbursement
Status: Passed both chambers, April 2, 2026
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical assistance generally, so as to direct the Department of Community Health to submit a waiver request to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to authorize the qualification of certain caregivers for Medicaid reimbursement for the provision of respite care and related services; to provide for implementation upon approval; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
What the bill says
To amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical assistance generally, so as to direct the Department of Community Health to submit a waiver request to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to authorize the qualification of certain caregivers for Medicaid reimbursement for the provision of respite care and related services; to provide for implementation upon approval; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
From the introduced text:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED To amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical assistance generally, so as to direct the Department of Community Health to submit a waiver request to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to authorize the qualification of certain caregivers for Medicaid reimbursement for the provision of respite care and related services; to provide for implementation upon approval; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA: SECTION 1. Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical assistance generally, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows: "49-4-142.6. (a) Not later than December 31, 2026, the department shall submit a waiver request to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to authorize the qualification of caregivers of those recipients of medical assistance who are under the age of 21 and at risk for out of home placement or residential treatment due to complex behavioral health H. B. 1238 LC 60 0227 conditions for Medicaid reimbursement for the provision of respite care and related services. (b) Upon approval of the waiver provided for in subsection (a) …