GAPP Knowledge Center
A parent's guide to navigating GAPP
Getting your child enrolled in GAPP — and managing ongoing care — involves a lot of moving parts. This page pulls the most important information into one place, with checklists you can print, save, or share with your child's care team.
Four Checklists for GAPP Families
These checklists are designed to reduce the cognitive load on families navigating a complex medical system. Print them, save them to your phone, or share them with whoever is helping you coordinate care.
First Call Checklist
What to have ready when you call Core Health Group Corp. for the first time
View Checklist →Hospital Discharge Checklist
What needs to happen before your child safely comes home
View Checklist →Medical Documents Checklist
Records to gather and keep current for your child's GAPP care plan
View Checklist →Questions to Ask a Nursing Agency
Evaluate any GAPP provider before you commit
View Checklist →First Call Checklist
When you call Core Health Group Corp. at (678) 536-6668, having this information ready helps us verify eligibility faster and start your child's intake the same day.
- Child's full legal name and date of birth
- Child's Georgia Medicaid ID number (on the Medicaid card)
- Primary diagnosis — exact diagnosis as documented by the physiciane.g., "ventilator-dependent respiratory failure" not just "breathing problems"
- Name of the attending physician or specialist who manages the primary diagnosis
- Physician's office phone number
- Whether your child currently has an active GAPP authorization (yes/no) — and if yes, with which agency
- Whether your child is currently hospitalized or planning a discharge
- Your preferred callback number and best time to reach you
- Whether you have already contacted Alliant Health Solutions or have a pending authorization request
- Whether your child has additional diagnoses we should know abouttracheostomy, feeding tube, seizure disorder, etc.
Tip: Screenshot or print this list before you call.
Hospital Discharge Checklist
Use this checklist when your child is transitioning from the hospital to home care. Ideally, begin working through this list 2–4 weeks before the anticipated discharge date.
Before Discharge — Clinical
- Attending physician has completed or initiated the GAPP prior authorization documentation
- Authorization submitted to Alliant Health SolutionsAlliant has 7 calendar days to respond to a complete packet
- Authorization has been approved (do not discharge without confirmed authorization if possible)
- Plan of care reviewed and signed by physician
- Nursing agency has received a copy of the plan of care
- Nursing staff assigned and oriented to child's equipment and protocols
- Family has completed required caregiver trainingtrach care, vent alarms, tube feeding, seizure response — as applicable
- Emergency protocols reviewed with familywhat to do if vent alarms, trach comes out, tube is displaced
- 911 pre-notification completed (first responders notified of child with life-sustaining equipment at home address)
Before Discharge — Equipment and Home
- Durable medical equipment (DME) delivery scheduled and confirmed
- Home walkthrough completed — adequate space for equipment, accessible outlets
- Utility company notified of medical priority status (for ventilator or life-sustaining equipment)
- Backup power plan in placegenerator, battery backup, or emergency protocol if power fails
- All supplies ordered: feeding supplies, suctioning supplies, trach supplies, dressings — as applicable
- Pharmacy prescriptions ready for day of discharge
- Follow-up physician appointment scheduled within 1–2 weeks of discharge
Tip: Screenshot or print this list before you call.
Medical Documents Checklist
Keep these documents organized and up to date. You will be asked for many of them repeatedly — by the nursing agency, Alliant, the school, and the physician. Having a digital and paper copy saves significant time.
- Georgia Medicaid card (front and back) — photographed and stored digitally
- Current GAPP authorization letter — shows approved services, hours, dates, and authorization number
- Physician order for home nursing / personal care — signed and dated within last 60 days
- Plan of care (485) — the document outlining nursing tasks, frequency, and goals
- Most recent clinical notes from the primary physician and any relevant specialists
- List of current medications (name, dose, frequency, route) — keep updated at every medication change
- Emergency information sheet — one page with diagnoses, medications, allergies, physician contacts, insurance info, and emergency protocols; post in a visible location at home
- Equipment manuals for all life-sustaining equipmentventilator, feeding pump, pulse ox — stored with the equipment
- IEP or 504 plan (if school-age) — school nursing needs a copy for medical management during school hours
- Advance directives or POLST / MOLST (if applicable) — discuss with your physician
Tip: Screenshot or print this list before you call.
Questions to Ask a Nursing Agency
You have the right to choose your GAPP provider — and the right to switch if your needs aren't being met. Before committing to an agency, ask these questions.
- Are you licensed by the Georgia Department of Community Health as a GAPP provider?
- What clinical staff do you employ — RNs, LPNs, PCAs? What is your ratio of RNs to LPNs?
- How do you orient staff to a specific patient's equipment and protocols before the first shift?Agency should have a formal orientation process, not just a brief call
- What is your on-call coverage? Is a clinical supervisor reachable 24/7 for emergencies?
- How quickly can you fill a shift if a scheduled nurse calls out?Ask for a realistic answer, not a marketing answer
- Do you have experience with ventilator-dependent / trach-dependent / tube-fed children specifically?
- How do you handle Electronic Visit Verification (EVV)? What app or system does the caregiver use?
- What happens if a nurse is consistently late or I am not satisfied with their performance?
- What is your process for authorization renewals — how far in advance do you start, and who manages it?
- Will I have a consistent point of contact for scheduling and clinical questions, or do I call a general line?
Tip: Screenshot or print this list before you call.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most important thing to do first when starting the GAPP process?
Contact a GAPP provider like Core Health Group Corp. as early as possible. We verify eligibility for free and manage the entire authorization process. The earlier you reach out, the sooner your child can begin receiving services.
Can I print these checklists?
Yes. Each checklist section on this page is designed to be printed directly from your browser. Use your browser's print function (Ctrl+P / Cmd+P) and select the section you need.
What if I don't have all the information on the First Call Checklist?
Call anyway. The more information you have, the faster we can move — but we can work with what you have. Our intake team is experienced at tracking down missing information.
How do I know if my child's current nursing agency is performing well?
Key indicators include: consistent staff assignments, nurses who arrive on time and prepared, timely communication when problems arise, proactive management of authorization renewals, and clear documentation. If you have concerns, you have the right to switch providers at any time without losing your child's authorization.
Where can I find peer support from other GAPP families?
Georgia has several parent advocacy and family support organizations for families of medically complex children. Core Health Group Corp. can provide referrals. Organizations such as Parent to Parent of Georgia (p2pga.org, 800-229-2038), the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities, and hospital-based family support programs are good starting points.
Free Eligibility Screening
Ready to take the next step?
Call Core Health Group Corp. at (678) 536-6668 or submit an inquiry online. We verify eligibility at no cost and walk your family through every step of the GAPP enrollment process.