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New Options Waiver (NOW) Program
New Options Waiver (NOW)
Program Overview
At Zeppone Caring Hands, we are committed to empowering individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities by offering compassionate, community-based care through the New Options Waiver (NOW) program.
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The NOW Waiver, along with the Comprehensive Supports Waiver Program (COMP), provides critical home- and community-based services (HCBS) to individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) or developmental disabilities (DD), helping them live with dignity, independence, and enhanced quality of life outside of institutional settings.
About the NOW Program
The Department of Community Health (DCH) oversees Georgia’s Medicaid system, while the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) handles the daily operations of the NOW/COMP programs through its Central Office and six regional offices across the state.
These regional offices manage key functions such as:
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Intake and evaluation
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Preauthorization of waiver services
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Crisis resolution and intervention
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Utilization and quality management
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Service planning and monitoring
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Access to the NOW/COMP program begins through the DBHDD regional offices or through the centralized single-entry point, available via toll-free number or online.
Who Qualifies?
To be eligible for the NOW Program, an individual must:
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Be a categorically eligible Medicaid recipient
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Have a diagnosed intellectual or developmental disability, such as autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, or a neurological condition
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Require a level of care equivalent to that provided in an Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF-ID)
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Be determined eligible for home- and community-based services as a viable alternative to institutional care
Purpose & Goals of the NOW Waiver
The NOW Waiver is designed for individuals who have less intensive needs than those served under the COMP program. Its primary purpose is to support individuals in living safely in their own home, a family home, or within the community. Goals include:
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Avoiding institutionalization or the need for more intensive services
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Promoting independence, community participation, and improved quality of life
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Providing flexibility in service planning to meet each individual's unique needs
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Allowing participants the choice and control to direct their own services
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Ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of all program participants
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At Zeppone Caring Hands, we walk alongside our clients and their families to ensure every person receives the support they deserve, with care that’s personal, empowering, and rooted in community.
NOW/COMP Waiver Services
Click here to learn more about our NOW/COMP Services, Medicaid-funded programs that provide personalized, home- and community-based support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. These services are designed to promote independence, enhance quality of life, and help individuals thrive safely in their homes or communities.