Atlanta Guide

How the Atlanta Area Agency on Aging Handles EDWP Intake

In metro Atlanta, EDWP intake starts with a phone screening by the Atlanta Regional Commission. Here is who it serves and what happens on the call.

Published November 9, 20268 min read

By A1GA Team

In metro Atlanta, EDWP intake starts with the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), which is the Area Agency on Aging for the region. ARC staff screen your loved one by phone. That call checks eligibility, sets priority and decides the next step. If your loved one is likely eligible, ARC either refers them for a nurse assessment at home or places them on a waiting list.

EDWP is Georgia's Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program. It pays for care at home instead of in a nursing home. Every new applicant in the ARC region goes through this same front door.

This guide explains who ARC serves, what happens on the intake call, and what comes after it.

The Atlanta Area Agency on Aging at a glance

Name: Atlanta Regional Commission Area Agency on Aging
Counties served: Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale
Local phone: 404-463-3333, the Empowerline line
Statewide toll-free line: 866-552-4464
Office: 229 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30303
Hours listed by the state: Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm
Role in EDWP: phone screening, waiting list and referral for assessment

These details come from the Georgia Division of Aging Services listing for ARC. Check the listing before you call, as contact details can change.

Who can call the Atlanta AAA about EDWP, and who qualifies?

Anyone can start the process. The EDWP case management manual (Section 1824) lists who can make a referral. That includes the applicant, family members, caregivers and representatives. Hospitals, doctors, nursing homes and community agencies can refer too.

The screening then checks the program's rules. Georgia.gov's EDWP application page lists them. Your loved one must:

Be eligible for Medicaid, or likely to qualify
Be 65 or older, or under 65 and meet the disability requirements
Need a nursing home level of care
Prefer care at home or in the community over a nursing home
Be enrolled in only one waiver program at a time

What does the Atlanta Regional Commission do?

ARC serves the ten-county region listed above as its Area Agency on Aging. ARC's aging services page describes Empowerline as its phone line and website for aging, disability and caregiver needs.

EDWP intake is one part of ARC's work. The same page lists other help that does not depend on EDWP, including:

Delivered meals
For people who cannot leave their homes
Respite vouchers
So family caregivers can take time for their own needs
Care management
Help coordinating health and daily-living services
Material aid
Assistive equipment and short-term help with essentials

This matters if there is a wait for EDWP. You can ask about these services on the same call. Empowerline's website says you can talk with a certified professional there at no charge.

What happens when you call ARC for EDWP?

The call is a structured screening, not a casual chat. Section 1824 of the case management manual sets out what it covers.

Eligibility talk
The screener explains the EDWP rules and checks whether your loved one may meet them.
Functional questions
The screener asks about daily tasks using Georgia's DON-R tool. The score sets priority for a home assessment.
Level of care and money
The screener notes medical needs and asks financial questions based on Medicaid rules.
Other resources
The screener must share other community help that may fit your situation.
Outcome
Your loved one is referred for an in-home assessment, placed on a waiting list, or found not eligible.

After screening, ARC sends a written notice of status. It tells you whether your loved one is eligible and whether they are on a waiting list.

Curious how the daily-task questions are scored? Our guide to nursing home level of care in Georgia explains how needs are judged.

What happens after ARC refers your loved one?

ARC's intake role ends when it sends the referral to a case management agency. Section 1813 of the manual describes this hand-off. From there, other agencies take over different jobs.

Who does what in EDWP intake in metro Atlanta
Agency	What it does
Atlanta Regional Commission (AAA)	Phone screening, priority, waiting list, referral to case management
Case management agency	A nurse visits your home, assesses needs and builds the first care plan
Your loved one's doctor	Approves the level of care and the care plan
County DFCS office	Decides Medicaid eligibility and any cost share for people who do not get SSI
Home care provider	Delivers the services in the care plan, such as personal support or SFC

The DFCS step depends on your loved one's benefits. Section 1822 says applicants who do not receive SSI are referred to DFCS for a Medicaid decision. People who get SSI already have SSI Medicaid and do not apply through DFCS.

Can you choose your agencies?

Yes. The manual's process chart shows that services are arranged based on the member's choice. Section 1829 covers the member's choice of EDWP provider. If you already know which home care provider you want, say so when services are being arranged.

To see how much income can affect the DFCS step, read our guide to Georgia Medicaid income limits for home care.

What if your loved one already has full Medicaid?

There may be a second door. Georgia's SOURCE application page says people apply by calling the SOURCE provider for their county. SOURCE is the EDWP path for people who meet SSI Medicaid rules.

The DCH EDWP fact sheet says people with active full Medicaid can contact either the AAA or a SOURCE site. Not sure which path fits? Our comparison of CCSP vs SOURCE walks through the differences.

What if the screening says no?

You will get it in writing. Section 1824 says denials and removals from the waiting list use a state form, Form 5382. It explains the decision. Appeals follow Section 1860 of the manual.

Read the notice carefully and note any deadline. Ask the screener what changed or what was missing. Then ask about other ARC services that may help in the meantime.

What should you have ready before you call?

Georgia.gov lists the documents an application needs. Having them nearby makes the call easier.

Proof of income
Proof of assets, such as bank accounts or property
Proof of citizenship
Doctor approval for intermediate nursing home care
Doctor approval for developing a care plan

If you do not have the doctor approvals yet, ask the screener how they are handled. Also have a list of the daily tasks your loved one needs help with. Keep a pen ready to write down any reference numbers and the date of the call.

How A1-GA Healthcare Agency helps

A1-GA Healthcare Agency is a Georgia DCH-approved Medicaid home care provider in Norcross, in Gwinnett County. We serve metro Atlanta, and we have provided in-home care since 2008. We have staffed caregivers since 2004.

We do not screen applicants or run the waiting list. That is ARC's job. We can explain the process before you call, and help you think through what to gather. Once your loved one is approved, they can choose us to provide EDWP services such as personal support and respite. If a relative lives with your loved one, ask about Structured Family Caregiving. For the full program picture, read What Is EDWP?

Phone: 678-446-1832
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Email: info@gahac.com
Quick check: fill in our eligibility form or visit our eligibility page

Frequently asked questions

What is the Area Agency on Aging for Atlanta?

The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) is the Area Agency on Aging for metro Atlanta. It serves Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale counties. Its Empowerline phone line connects families to aging, disability and caregiver help.

What phone number do I call for EDWP in metro Atlanta?

The Georgia Division of Aging Services lists two numbers for the Atlanta Regional Commission Area Agency on Aging: 404-463-3333 and the toll-free 866-552-4464. Check the state's listing before you call, since numbers can change.

Can a hospital or doctor refer my parent for EDWP?

Yes. Georgia's EDWP case management manual says hospitals, physicians, nursing homes and community agencies can make referrals. Family members, caregivers and the applicant can also start the process.

Does the Area Agency on Aging decide Medicaid eligibility?

Not by itself. The Area Agency on Aging screens and refers. For applicants who do not receive SSI, the county DFCS office decides Medicaid eligibility and any cost share.

What happens after the EDWP phone screening?

There are three possible outcomes. Your loved one may be referred for an in-home nurse assessment, placed on a waiting list, or found not eligible. You receive a written notice either way.

Can a home care agency call the Area Agency on Aging for us?

Georgia's EDWP case management manual says providers cannot act as an applicant's representative or go-between with intake. Families are encouraged to call directly. A provider can still explain the process and help you prepare.

Sources

This article is for education only. It is not legal, medical or financial advice. Speak to a qualified professional about your situation before you act.