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 of the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Addictive Diseases (DBHDD) are responsible for planning, coordinating, and contracting publicly funded hospital and community services. They also oversee and evaluate community programs to ensure quality and compliance. Contact information for each regional DBHDD office, including addresses and phone numbers, can be found at the end of this booklet. For further inquiries, you may also reach the DBHDD Public Information Office at 404-657-2272.

If you have access to a personal computer, you can find information online at www.dhr.state.ga.us. Start by selecting the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Addictive Diseases, then choose the regional office for 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 Division of DBHDD’s regional offices do not directly provide services. Instead, services are delivered by agencies contracted through these regional offices. If you have any questions or concerns during the application process or while receiving services, you can reach out to your regional DBHDD office for assistance.

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 the 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 occurs 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 from the regional DBHDD office will reach out to you (and your designated representative, if applicable) by phone or in writing if services become available prior to 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 eligible for Medicaid, you should direct your appeal regarding eligibility for developmental disability services to the regional office of 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 provides a range of services for individuals with developmental disabilities or intellectual disabilities who qualify for support. Some programs are funded solely by state resources, while others are supported through Medicaid waiver programs. The most suitable services for you will depend on your unique needs and circumstances.

• 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 – help 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 might qualify for “Medical Assistance Only” (MAO) if your monthly income exceeds the limit for regular Medicaid eligibility but is still insufficient to cover the full cost of your care expenses.

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. You can achieve this by bringing a completed DMA-6 form, also known as the “Level of Care,” 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 qualify for developmental disability (DD) services under the waiver, the waiver covers most community-based DD services. Any service-related payments will be reviewed with you prior to the start of 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. Additionally, we offer family support services for individuals with autism and various 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.