Quick Answer: Yes. GAPP, the Georgia Pediatric Program, covers home nursing care for children with cerebral palsy who qualify. Your child must be under 21, have Georgia Medicaid, and have a doctor-documented medical need. Eligible families pay nothing out of pocket.
Home nursing care for children with cerebral palsy in Georgia can be paid for by Medicaid through GAPP. A trained nurse comes to your home, so your child can stay with family. This guide explains who qualifies, what nurses do, and how to apply.
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders that affect movement, balance, and posture. The CDC calls it the most common motor disability in childhood. CP does not worsen over time, but symptoms can change as a child grows.
CP looks different in every child. Many children also have seizures, spine changes such as scoliosis, or tight joints called contractures. Some have trouble sucking and swallowing. Home nursing care for children with cerebral palsy often includes these tasks:
Therapy builds skills. Nursing keeps your child safe between appointments. Many families ask about feeding tubes. Our G-tube care at home guide explains the daily routine.
Yes, children with cerebral palsy can qualify for GAPP. The diagnosis alone does not decide it, though. GAPP looks at medical need.
A doctor must document that your child needs skilled nursing or personal care at home. Every service needs a physician’s order and prior authorization.
Read our full GAPP eligibility guide for more detail. If household income is a concern, read about the Katie Beckett waiver. For eligible children, it can base Medicaid eligibility on the child’s own income.
If several of these fit, ask your doctor and a GAPP agency for an assessment. Children with seizures can also read our guide to GAPP for seizure disorders and epilepsy.
GAPP care teams include three kinds of caregivers. Your child’s medical needs decide which ones are approved.
See RN vs. LPN vs. CNA under GAPP and our skilled nursing services for details.
Care Within Reach also runs a Parent Caregiver Program. Eligible parents, grandparents, and legal guardians can be employed by the agency. They are paid an hourly wage for non-skilled care.
A care plan is the written roadmap for your child’s care. Your child’s doctor signs a Physician Plan of Treatment. The agency’s nurses then build the daily plan from it.
The example below shows what home nursing care for children with cerebral palsy may include. It is for education only. It is not a real patient and not medical advice.
Care area | What the nurse may do |
Feeding | Gives G-tube feedings on the doctor’s schedule. Keeps your child’s head raised during feeds. Checks the tube site. |
Seizures | Logs the time, length, and look of each seizure. Gives rescue medicine only as ordered. Follows the emergency plan. |
Breathing | Checks breathing and oxygen readings. Suctions if ordered. Reports cough, fever, or noisy breathing. |
Skin and positioning | Changes position as the plan directs. Checks skin at bath time. Uses supports as ordered. |
Medicines | Gives medicines from the physician’s orders. Notes side effects and reports changes. |
Equipment | Checks the pump, suction machine, oxygen, and battery backups each shift. |
A strong plan also includes:
Plans are reviewed often. Read GAPP renewal and reauthorization to see what to expect.
Our GAPP how it works page explains our three-step process.
If your child is in the hospital, ask the discharge planning team to connect you with an agency. Starting early can shorten the gap before your first nursing shift. Not sure which agency to choose? Read how to choose the right GAPP provider.
Use our GAPP documentation checklist to get ready. If your request is denied, read how to appeal a GAPP denial.
For eligible children, GAPP funds home nursing care for children with cerebral palsy through Georgia Medicaid. Approved nursing and personal care carry no out-of-pocket cost. Care Within Reach also offers a free consultation.
See our guide on whether in-home nursing is free in Georgia.
Approved hours are not always staffed hours. Ask any agency how it fills shifts and handles call-outs.
Georgia GAPP nursing job listings show pay near $30 to $36 an hour for LPNs. RN pay is near $45 to $54 an hour. These are nurse wages only, not agency prices.
GAPP ends when your child ages out. Talk with your doctor and agency about adult services about a year ahead.
Care Within Reach is based in Dunwoody, Georgia, at 56 Perimeter Center E. We serve families across Georgia, including Fulton, DeKalb, and Gwinnett counties. See every city and area we serve on our areas we serve page.
Care Within Reach supports children and families across Georgia with home-based skilled nursing and personal care services. Our team helps families understand the care process, prepare the necessary information, and receive support that meets the child’s daily medical needs.
Families choose Care Within Reach because of our:
Our goal is to help children with medical needs receive safe, consistent care at home while guiding families throughout the process.
Caring for a child with cerebral palsy is a full-time job. GAPP can fund home nursing care for children with cerebral palsy at no out-of-pocket cost for eligible families.
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Yes, children with cerebral palsy can qualify for GAPP. Coverage depends on medical need, not the diagnosis name. A doctor must document that your child needs skilled nursing or personal care at home.
It is skilled nursing and personal care given in your child’s home. Through GAPP, nurses can give G-tube feedings, give medicines, and monitor seizures. Care follows a plan signed by your child’s doctor.
For eligible children, GAPP is funded by Georgia Medicaid. Approved nursing and personal care have no out-of-pocket cost to the family. Without GAPP, families would pay for private nursing themselves.
Your child must be under 21 and live in Georgia. They must have Georgia Medicaid or be eligible for it. A doctor must document a need for skilled nursing or personal care at home.
GAPP serves children under 21. State training documents describe the cutoff as under 20 years 11 months. Start planning for adult services about a year before your child ages out.
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