A: The regional office representing Georgia’s Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Diseases that includes your county of residence is your first contact point.

Regional offices representing the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Diseases (DBHDD plan, coordinate and contract all publicly-supported hospital and community services, and evaluate and monitor those community programs and services. The addresses and phone numbers for each regional DBHDD office are located at the back of this booklet. You may also contact the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Diseases public information at 404-657-2272.

If you have a personal computer, Internet information is available at www.dhr.state.ga.us; first click on of Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Diseases, then click on the regional office representing your county.

A: As an applicant and a consumer of services, you have rights. Your rights include:

• Getting the care that you need
• Being treated with respect and dignity
• Having your health and safety protected
• Choosing how, when, where and by whom your services will be delivered
• Taking part in planning your own treatment
• Knowing the benefits and risks of your treatment
• Having continuity in the services you receive
• Being free of restraints or seclusion, except as a last resort for safety
• Being free of physical, sexual or verbal abuse
• Being free of neglect or exploitation
• Being able to grieve/appeal decisions concerning your care
• Exercising your rights without fear of harm
• You are encouraged to ask questions about your services and your rights. You may talk with any staff member of the agency serving you

A: The regional offices representing the Division of DBHDD do not provide services. Services are provided by agencies under contract with the regional DBHDD offices. At any time during the application process or while receiving services, if you have questions or concerns, call your regional DBHDD office for help.

A: There are several very specific circumstances that could cause you to be discharged from DD waiver services. You would be notified in writing if you were to be discharged from the waiver. Several examples of the specific circumstances that could cause you to be discharged are listed below.

It has been determined that services you were receiving are no longer needed.
The source of funding for the services you have received has been changed
You have moved from Georgia
The level of care you require has changed.
You have requested in writing that your services be terminated
Your Medicaid eligibility has been discontinued
If one of these circumstances occur and you disagree with this decision, you may request a fair hearing. You have thirty (30) days from the date of the letter to request a hearing in writing. Send your request to:

Department of Community Health
Legal Services Section
Division of Medical Assistance
Two Peachtree Street, NW, 40th Floor
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-3159

A: A representative from your regional office representing the Division of DBHDD will contact you at least every twelve months to update their information about your current situation. You should contact the regional DBHDD office any time your situation changes.

A representative of the regional DBHDD office will call or write you (and your representative, if appropriate) if services become available before your next scheduled contact.

What information is used to move me from the planning list into the services I need?

First, funds must be available to pay for the needed services. Then, your need for services will be carefully reviewed. A number of factors are considered, such as:

Do you have a caretaker?
Can your caretaker continue to provide care?
Do you have any special health or behavior issues that urgently need attention?

A: You have the right to appeal if you are not satisfied with any part of the eligibility decision.

Where do I send my appeal?

If you are NOT Medicaid eligible, your appeal about whether you are eligible for DD services should be directed to the regional office for the Division of DBHDD.

Contact your regional DBHDD office to ask for a copy of the appeal process.

You must submit your appeal to the regional office representing the Division of DBHDD IN WRITING within 30 working days of the date on the letter telling you about the decision. If you are unable to submit your appeal in writing, contact the regional DBHDD office. They will assign a staff person to assist you in submitting your appeal.

If you are Medicaid eligible, your appeal should be directed to the Division of Medical Assistance AND to the Division of DBHDD.

A: The regional office representing the Division of DBHDD that includes your county of residence is your first contact point. Ask them to mail you an application or to tell you where you may pick one up.

Fill out the application and return it to the regional office representing the Division of DBHDD. You can deliver it in person or send it by mail or fax-whichever is most convenient.

When your application is received, it will be stamped with a date.

A: Georgia offers a variety of services to people with mental retardation or developmental disabilities who are eligible for services. Some services are available through state dollars only, while others are available through Medicaid waiver dollars only. Your specific needs will determine which services are most appropriate for you.

Service Monitor/Service Coordinator/Natural Support Service Coordinator – connects people to services that they need.

Consumer and Family Education – provides instruction, classes and workshops on mental retardation.

Counseling and Training – helps people learn social skills and appropriate behavior.

Day Programs/Day Supports – help people develop social, leisure, and work-related and daily living skills.

Personal and Natural Supports – provide training and in-home assistance to help people with mental retardation continue to live with their families or on their own.

A: You may be eligible for “Medical Assistance Only” (MAO) if your monthly income is higher than the amount a person can receive and be eligible for regular Medicaid, but not high enough for you to pay all of the expenses that would be required for your care.

To apply for Medical Assistance Only, contact your county Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) after you have been screened for eligibility for Medicaid waiver services. You will need to show DFCS that you are eligible for DD waiver services. This can be accomplished by bringing a completed DMA-6 or “Level of Care” with you to your DFCS appointment. This form will be supplied to you through the Clinical Evaluation Team assessment process.

A: If you have a disability, you or your representative can apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) by contacting your local Social Security office. You may call 1-800-772-1213 to find your closest Social Security office.

If you are approved for SSI, you will automatically be eligible for Medicaid.

A: Your income and ability to pay determine the cost to you for state-supported services. As part of determining eligibility for state-supported mental retardation services, your ability to pay will be evaluated.

If you are eligible for DD services under the waiver, the DD waiver pays for most community-based DD  services.

Any payment for services will be discussed with you before you receive services.

A: To be eligible for state-supported mental retardation services, you must have a diagnosis of mental retardation or a developmental disability and meet the criteria for “most in need.” People who are “most in need” of services are those with social, emotional, developmental, or physical disabilities resulting from mental retardation who, without state-supported services, would have significant difficulty or be unable to successfully live day to day. In addition, family support services are available for people with autism and certain other developmental disabilities.

Most of Georgia’s public mental retardation services are supported by Medicaid waiver funds. To receive Medicaid waiver services, you must:

• Be Medicaid eligible;
• Have mental retardation since birth or before age 18 or another developmental disability since birth or before age 22, which requires services similar to those needed by people with mental retardation;
• Live in an institution for people with mental retardation or developmental disabilities; or
• Be at risk for going into an institution for people with mental retardation (ICF-MR) if you are not able to get the services you need in the community.