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Georgia Pathways to Coverage™

The Georgia Pathways to Coverage, or Pathways is a program that gives low-income Georgians who are working or preparing for work and who are not eligible for Medicaid today a new opportunity to gain access to healthcare coverage through Medicaid.

Georgia residents have been able to apply for the program since on July 1, 2023. Applicants can apply for Georgia Pathways online, telephonically or In-person, or by mailing in a paper application. Certain criteria must be met for applicants to qualify for the Georgia Pathways.

Requirements to join the Georgia Pathways to Coverage program differ from other Georgia Medicaid programs. To be eligible, you must:

  • Be a Georgia resident.
  • Be a U.S. citizen or legal resident.
  • Not be eligible for any other category of Medicaid.
  • Be between the ages of 19 and 64.
  • Have a household income of up to 100% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
  • Not be incarcerated in a public institution.
  • Prove that you are doing one or more qualifying activities per for at 80 hours per month.

Georgia Pathways members are eligible to receive the same State Plan benefits as other Medicaid groups. Coverage would start the first day of the following month after approval.

Pathways members will need to pay a copay when you get care, just like other Medicaid members. If you cannot pay your copay, you will still get the covered services. Copays are not required for Pathways members under age 21.

Georgia Pathways does not cover non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) except for members ages 19-20 who are receiving Early Period Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) as required by Medicaid for children under 21.

In order to qualify for Pathways, an individual must:

  1. Report at least 80 hours of qualifying activities when applying.
  2. Provide proof showing they met the hours and activity requirements for the most recent 4 weeks within the 8 weeks before their application date.

If an applicant has a disability, they can request a Reasonable Modification for a referral to GVRA or the option for extra time to complete their 80 hours.

Applicants who think they qualify for Georgia Pathways but do not get approved, can appeal the decision. If a decision results in the suspension or termination of their Georgia Pathways coverage, members can appeal that too. The decision letter will include information on how to appeal a decision and who to contact if members have questions about appealing a decision.

Coverage in Pathways is retroactive. Your coverage starts onthe first day of the month you apply.

  • New members are covered retroactively through Fee-for-Service (FFS).
  • After your eligibility is approved, your coverage moves to a Care Management Organization (CMO) two days later. 
  • Pathways does not help pay medical bills from months before you applied.

Members eligible for Georgia Pathways will be auto assigned into a CMO using the State’s existing assignment methodology. 

To remain eligible for Medicaid coverage, through the Georgia Pathways, it is expected that a member completes at least 80 hours of qualifying activities per month, though there is no requirement to report and upload proof of qualifying activity completion monthly.

There is no requirement to report and upload proof of qualifying activity completion monthly. Qualifying activities will only be verified during the initial application, annual renewal and when a member reports a change.

Members are required to report a change in circumstance to the State, even if that change may impact their eligibility. All Pathways members are required to report a change within ten (10) days.

For any reported change, Pathways members will be reviewed for eligiblitiy for all Medicaid categories of assistance, including Pathways.

You can submit a change request through one of the following options below:

  • Gateway Customer Portal (CP): You can access Gateway by visiting www.gateway.ga.gov.
  • Paper/Mail: Mail your Change Request to your local Department of Family & Children’s Services (DFCS) office.
  • In-Person: Visit your local DFCS office.
  • Telephone: You may call by phone at 1-877-423-4746 or 711 for those who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind or have difficulty speaking, to attest to your hours and activities.

Qualifying Activities help you keep your Georgia Pathways to Coverage.  Each activity has a description and a way it can be verified.

Qualifying Activity

Description

Verification

Employment

Includes full- and part-time work

  • Electronic verification sources through Employment Income Verification System (EIVS) data
  • Pay stubs
  • Written statement from source/employer
  • Gross earnings (if hourly pay is known)
  • Timesheet

Self-employment

Some examples include but are not limited to owning one’s own business, cutting grass, collecting cans for recycling, babysitting, selling food items, taxi/food delivery service, etc.

  • Electronic verification sources
  • Signed Standardized Work/Participation Calendar from member indicating hours engaged (Member may fill in a standardized worksheet template indicating total weekly hours worked per client/activity; OR submit a snapshot of their actual work calendar from the reporting month (e.g. Photo of ledger of appointments or screenshot of calendar with work activities)

On-the-job Training

Training given to a paid employee while he/she is working in the job.

  • Statement from supervisor sponsoring the OJT
Job ReadinessActivities directly related to preparation for employment. Some examples include but are not limited to life-skills training, GED course enrollment, resume building, and habilitation or rehabilitation activities, including substance use disorder treatment. Rehabilitation activities must be determined to be necessary and documented by a qualified medical professional.
  • Signed statement from Recognized Agency or Community Resource indicating hours engaged. (Recognized agencies include Georgia Department of Labor Career Center, Workforce Development Board, Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency, Goodwill, and other agencies as authorized by the State)

Job Readiness-Skilled Nursing Facility and Job Readiness-Hospital Stay

An inpatient hospital stay/short-term skilled nursing facility (SNF) stay is considered a habilitation or rehabilitation activity under job readiness only at initial application. For each day of an inpatient hospital stay/SNF stay, an applicant may claim 4 hours towards their monthly Qualifying Activities requirement.

  • Signed statement from habilitation/rehabilitation institution verifying hours in last four weeks
Community Service

Approved community service programs are limited to projects that serve a useful community purpose in fields such as health, social service, environmental protection, education, urban and rural redevelopment, welfare, recreation, public facilities, public safety, and childcare.

  • Signed Standardized Work/Participation Calendar
  • Signed statement on organization letterhead from supervisor verifying hours

Community Service-Relative Caregiving

This is when an individual is providing relative caregiving services also known as Structured Family Caregiving within Elderly Disabled Waiver Program (EDWP), Community Care Service Program (CCSP), or Service Options Using Resources in a Community Environment (SOURCE). If you are providing care with two or more providers, please enter a qualifying activity record for each provider.

  • Pay stubsProvider Statement Letter

Vocational Education Training

Organized educational programs that prepare individuals for employment in current or emerging occupations. Course hour requirements for vocational education training shall be determined by the Department of Community Health (DCH).
 

Enrollment in an Institution of Higher Education 

The student's workload may include any combination of courses, work, research, or special studies that the institution considers contributing to the individual’s full-time status.

  • Electronic verification through Board of Regents (BOR) data
  • Official course enrollment for the current semester from the Office of the Registrar
  • Copy of class schedule for the current semester

Enrollment and active engagement in the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA) Vocational Rehabilitation program

Enrollment and active engagement in the GVRA Vocational Rehabilitation program.

  • Signed statement from GVRA, dated within four weeks of submission by the applicant
  • Enrollment letter dated within four weeks of submission by the applicant

SNAP Works Program

Compliance with the eligibility requirements to receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits under the Work Program/Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) program. An individual enrolled in this program may only meet the Pathways qualifying activity requirement if they are completing a work activity.

  • System Verified

Parent and Legal Guardian of a child under six years of age

Parents and legal guardians who are primarily responsible for the daily care and well-being of a child younger than six years of age.

The child under six must be currently enrolled in the Medicaid program or must be on the Medicaid application also applying for Medicaid with the adult seeking Pathways coverage.

  • System Verified
  • Proof of Legal Guardianship

The easiest way for a member to report their hours is online at The Georgia Gateway website through 'Report My Change.’ 

Members can also report their hours:

  • By mailing a paper form to your local Division of Family & Children Services (DFCS) office: visit Department of Family & Children Services
  • By phone at  1-877-423-4746 or 711 for those who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind or have difficulty speaking.
  • In-person at your local Division of Family & Children Services (DFCS) office. To find the location and business hours for a DFCS office, visit: dfcs.ga.gov/locations.

Please note, members qualifying activities may need to be verified. Qualifying activity requirements will only apply to Pathways and not those who are enrolled under the traditional Medicaid program.

If you need assistance with meeting your qualifying hours, obtaining or sustaining employment please visit https://www.pshpgeorgia.com/members/medicaid/social-determinants-of-health.html.

Georgia Pathways members can visit the Georgia Medicaid Management Information System (GAMMIS) site, to login to the secure portal using their provider ID number and personal identification pin to verify eligibility as well as to access Medicaid information, resources, claims, and more.

Good Cause Exceptions help members when they cannot meet their Qualifying Activities.

You can request a Good Cause Exception for not meeting the 80 hours of Qualifying Activities during the reporting month. The Good Cause Exception must be a situation that temporarily prevents, or changes your ability to, complete Qualifying Activity and Hours. You can submit this request directly to the State using one of the following state-approved methods:

  • Gateway: You can access Gateway by visiting www.gateway.ga.gov
  • Paper/Mail: mail request to a local Department of Family & Children’s Services (DFCS) office
  • In-person at your local DFCS office
  • Telephone: You may call in your Good Cause Exception request at 1-877-423-4746 or 711 for hearing-impaired.

You must complete the following requirements to make a Good Cause Exception request.

  • Select a reason for the Good Cause Exception from the options, or select “other”
  • Provide a written explanation of the event
  • Indicate the number of hours requested for the Good Cause Exception
  • Submit documentation to support the request

You can only request a Good Cause Exception for the previous month’s Qualifying Activity and Hours. A maximum of 120 hours of Good Cause Exceptions per certification year.

The table shows the allowed Good Cause Exception reasons, a description, and how they are verified.

Good Cause

Definition for Pathways

Verification

Family emergency or life event

The individual or a member of their immediate family was a victim of/involved in domestic violence, divorce, legal proceeding, legal matter, or temporary incarceration during the reporting period; or the individual was confirmed to serve jury duty during the reporting period.

Immediate family means the individual’s spouse, child, parent, brother and sister. Immediate family also includes any other person who resides in the individual’s household and is recognized by law as a dependent of the individual.

  • Client Statement with Collateral Contact (a secondary supporting contact)
  • Clinician’s Note
  • Court Papers/Legal Papers
  • Police Report/Domestic disturbance report
  • Jury Duty Selection Notice

Birth, adoption, foster placement, or death of an immediate family member

A member of the individual’s immediate family was born, was adopted, or died during the reporting period. The individual received a placement of a foster child in the home, including those in kinship during the reporting period.

  • Birth certificate
  • Birth announcement
  • Adoption papers
  • Obituary
  • Death certificate
  • Caregiver Placement Passport (for foster placement)

Temporary illness/short term injury

The individual experienced a temporary illness or short-term injury that resulted in an inability to work, attend school, or perform other regular daily activities for over three consecutive calendar days during the reporting period.

  • Clinician’s Note
  • Employer/Supervisor Statement

Serious illness or hospitalization of member, or immediate family member

The individual or a member of the individual’s immediate family was hospitalized or otherwise incapacitated during the reporting period due to illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition that involves inpatient care in a hospital, hospice, or residential medical care facility; or continuing treatment by a health care provider.

  • Clinician’s Note
  • Employer/Supervisor Statement

Natural or human-caused disaster

The individual was a victim of a natural or human-caused disaster, such as a flood, storm, earthquake, serious fire, industrial accident, shooting, act of terrorism, incidents of mass violence, or other declared incident of mass trauma during the reporting period.

  • Client Statement with Collateral Contact (a secondary supporting contact)
  • State-issued executive order
  • Federally declared disaster
  • Property loss statement

Temporary homelessness

The individual was evicted from their home or became homeless during the reporting period.

  • Client Statement
  • Landlord letter
  • Lease document

COVID-19

The individual is unable to fulfill the hours and activities requirements because the individual was quarantining in response to having COVID-19 symptoms, a COVID-19 diagnosis, or exposure to COVID-19, or because of a closure of the place(s) related to COVID-19 where the individual was meeting the hours requirement.

  • Client Statement with Collateral Contact
  • Clinician’s Note
  • Employer/Supervisor Statement

Other

The individual or a member of their immediate family was a victim of/involved in domestic violence, divorce, legal proceeding, legal matter, or temporary incarceration during the reporting period; or the individual was confirmed to serve jury duty during the reporting period.

Immediate family means the individual’s spouse, child, parent, brother and sister. Immediate family also includes any other person who resides in the individual’s household and is recognized by law as a dependent of the individual.

  • Client Statement with Collateral Contact
  • TBD (circumstance reviewed and determined acceptable)

Our Member Engagement Team

Peach State Health Plan’s Member Engagement Team is here to help you stay covered and make the most of your Georgia Pathways benefits. We are committed to supporting you every step of the way so you can maintain your eligibility and renew your benefits on time.

Our team is available by phone, email, in-person and through monthly GA Pathways events. At these events, you can get hands-on help with:

  • Meeting your Qualifying Activities requirements
  • Understanding and using your current health plan benefits
  • Preparing for your annual renewal so there are no gaps in your coverage

In addition, our team provides personalized support that includes:

  • Conducting health and social needs assessments
  • Screening and triaging Pathways Members
  • Connecting you with resources like transportation, housing, and other supports that help you stay on track with your Qualifying Activities

We work closely with you and our trusted Community Partners to ensure you have the tools, resources, and guidance you need to keep your coverage and thrive.

For more information about upcoming events, please visit our Community Events page https://www.pshpgeorgia.com/events.html and navigated to our GA Pathways events.

If you have a disability, you may qualify for extra help called Reasonable Modifications or Reasonable Accommodations. These supports can make it easier to keep your Pathways coverage and meet program rules.

Reasonable Modifications

Reasonable Modifications are changes the State or eligibility staff can make to Pathways rules or processes to support you.

Examples include:

  • Letting you keep Pathways coverage for up to 90 days if you cannot work or take part in qualifying activities because of a disability. During this time, you will be referred to and go through the intake process with the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA).
  • Adjusting the minimum required hours if you cannot meet the 80-hour rule due to a disability and have written proof from your employer or organization.

Important: Enrollment in GVRA itself is a qualifying activity. It is not considered a Reasonable  Modification.

Reasonable Accommodations

Reasonable Accommodations are different. These are changes made by your employer or school to help you work or take part in activities.

  • You must ask your employer, school, or GVRA directly for these accommodations.
  • DFCS (the Department of Family and Children Services) does not decide or verify these  accommodations.

The only time DFCS needs to know about an accommodation is if it lowers your hours below the 80-hour monthly requirement. In that case, the State can change your required hours so you can keep your Pathways coverage.

Definition of Disability

For Pathways, disability is defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). You may qualify if you:

  1. Have a physical, mental, or sensory condition that limits daily activities.
  2. Have a history of such a condition.
  3. Are seen as having such a condition.

This is different from the definition of disability used for Aged, Blind, and Disabled (ABD) Medicaid.

Every year, Pathways members must renew their coverage. This is called redetermination. During this process, the State reviews your information in Gateway to see if you still qualify for benefits.

For Pathways members, the rules and timelines are the same as other Family Medicaid programs:

  • Auto-renewal: About 60 days before your renewal date, the State will try to renew your coverage automatically.
  • If auto-renewal doesn’t work: You will get a Renewal Notice about 45 days before your renewal date.
  • You must complete and return it on time.
  • If you miss the deadline: Your coverage will end on the last day of your current coverage period.

It is very important to respond quickly to any letters or notices you get from the State so you don’t lose your health coverage by missing a deadline.

You still have time to act if your coverage ends:

  • You have 90 days after your coverage ends to submit your renewal.
  • If you are still eligible, your coverage will restart without a gap.
  • If you do not renew within 90 days, you must apply again for Medicaid

For more information about renewing your coverage, please visit our How to Renew page https://www.pshpgeorgia.com/members/medicaid/how-to-enroll.html or The Stay Informed website.

Here are some important links to helpful information:

  • DCH General Pathways FAQs (Coming Soon)
  • Georgia Families Member Handbook (Coming Soon)
  • Provider Manual (Coming Soon)
  • Sample PCP/PCD Member ID Card (Coming Soon)
  • Resource Support Form
  • Health Risk Assessment Form (PDF)
  • Office Visit Checklist (Coming Soon)
  • Georgia Pathways Member Quick Start Guide (Coming Soon)
  • Gateway Qualifying Activity Reporting How-To Guide (Coming Soon)
  • Gateway Reporting a Reasonable Accommodation How-To Guide (Coming Soon)
  • Gateway Requesting a Good Cause Exception How-To Guide (Coming Soon)
  • Gateway Requesting a Reasonable Modification How-To Guide (Coming Soon)

How to Search Your Handbooks and Directories

  1. Open the handbook
  2. Press Ctrl F to open the search tool
  3. Type the Word you are looking for into the text box
  4. Press enter.

For more information visit the Georgia Pathways to Coverage program website.

Need help understanding this?

If you have any questions or need help understanding the Georgia Pathways program, call Member Services at 1-800-704-1484; TTY/TDD 1-800-255-0056. You can get this information for free in other formats like another language, large print, Braille, or audio. To request it, please call Member Services at 1-800-704-1484.  If you are hearing or vision impaired dial 1-800-255-0056.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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