News and Info:

In Your State

Are you or a loved one on a waiting list for Home and Community Based Services (HCBS)? Do you have an experience with your state’s HCBS program and/or waiting list? We want to hear from you! Fill out the form below to share your story with us. 

Georgia Waiting List:

7,095

Across the South, over half a million people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have been on waiting lists for years to receive Medicaid waivers for home and community-based services (HCBS). In Georgia, over 7,000 people currently sit on the waiting list for NOW/COMP waivers, and that doesn’t include the many thousands who don’t apply for waivers because they know they’ll be waiting for years. The people on these waiting lists span from children to adults, and it has caused devastating life challenges for most of them. Some adults have been forced to live in institutions and nursing homes as they wait for years to receive the care they need in their own homes, and parents of children on the waiting lists haven’t been able to get jobs because they have to care for their children full time. Additionally, many have to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket for whatever care they can get as they wait for this life-saving support.

Take Action

A Black man standing behind a white man who is seated in a wheelchair. The man behind is holding onto the seated man's shoulder, and the seated man is reaching behind to hold his hand.

Simply emailing or calling your representative can make a difference. To email your representative, click on the linked names below. For ease of contact, the subject and body are pre-populated. All you’ll need to do is hit send (unless you would like to customize it). When calling their offices, you can use this suggested script:

“I am calling because I am concerned about the 7,100 people with disabilities waiting for NOW and COMP waivers that would allow them to receive care in their homes and communities instead of institutions. I know that our state has the money to pay for it, so I am urging you to fund 2,400 waivers and keep the pay raise rate increase for care workers from the governor’s budget recommendations. I want my tax dollars spent to help Georgians with disabilities and the workers who care for them. Please show Georgia that you care about our state’s disability community and include this funding in this year’s budget.”

A Black femme serves a slice of cake with rainbow layers and sprinkles while wearing compression gloves.

Chairwoman of the Human Resources Subcommittee
(404) 463-2248

Vice-Chairwoman of the Subcommittee
(404) 656-0213

Member
(404) 656-0116

Member
(404) 656-3947

Four disabled people of color gather around a table during a meeting. A Black woman sitting on a couch speaks with a neutral expression while the three others listen.

You can also contact your state legislators today and tell them you want them to fund 2,400 slots on the NOW/COMP waiver waiting list this year, and that you want them to keep the care worker wage increase from the governor’s budget recommendations.

A woman holds her young child against her chest.
A South Asian person sits in her wheelchair and presses a button to lower the height-adjustable shelves in an accessible kitchen.
An Indigenous Two-Spirit person ties their shoelaces while sitting in a chair. They are dressed in all black and have braided hair, tattoos, and a prosthetic leg.

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