CCSP vs SOURCE:Which Georgia Waiver Fits Your Parent?

CCSP and SOURCE are both parts of Georgia's Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program (EDWP), so the right fit depends on your parent's Medicaid, where they live and how much medical oversight they need. Neither path is better in general. They organize care in different ways.

SOURCE puts a primary care physician on the care team and gives round-the-clock access to that team. It needs full Medicaid and is offered only in some areas. CCSP is available across the state and can start with people who are only potentially eligible for Medicaid. This guide helps you see which path your parent is likely to use, so the first call goes faster.

CCSP vs SOURCE at a glance

• Same program: both sit inside EDWP, Georgia's Medicaid waiver for older and disabled adults
• Same core need: both serve people who need an intermediate nursing-home level of care
• Biggest difference: SOURCE links care to primary medical care; CCSP uses a care coordinator, with a medical option for those who need it
• Medicaid: SOURCE needs full Medicaid; CCSP can begin with potential eligibility
• Reach: CCSP works statewide; SOURCE runs only in some counties
• Who decides: screening, DFCS and the level-of-care review, not the family alone

Does your parent's Medicaid decide whether CCSP or SOURCE fits?

Often, yes. Medicaid status is the first fork in the road. DCH's EDWP fact sheet describes two main ways people qualify financially.

• SSI route. People who receive Supplemental Security Income usually get Medicaid through their Social Security application.
• Medical Assistance Only route. People who do not get SSI apply through their county DFCS office. Members in this group may pay part of their service costs.

SOURCE requires full Medicaid. Georgia.gov phrases this as meeting SSI Medicaid criteria. CCSP is broader. DCH's CCSP overview says a person can be Medicaid eligible or potentially eligible after a financial screening.

One thing rules out both paths. A DCH provider notice says coverage only through QMB, SLMB or QI does not qualify for either one. Those programs help with Medicare costs. They are not full Medicaid.

Facts to gather before you call

• Does your parent receive SSI, and do you have a recent Social Security letter?
• Does your parent have a Georgia Medicaid card, and which DFCS letters came with it?
• Is your parent's only help with Medicare costs through QMB, SLMB or QI?
• Which county does your parent live in?
• Does your parent have a primary care doctor they see regularly?
• How often has your parent needed urgent care, the emergency room or a hospital stay lately?

CCSP vs SOURCE: how do they compare side by side?

This table pulls together what Georgia's official documents say about each path. Where a document is silent, the table says so.

The services themselves overlap heavily. Both paths can include personal support, adult day health, home-delivered meals, emergency response, respite and care in a residential setting. The real difference is who coordinates the care and how closely a doctor is involved.

When might SOURCE fit your parent?

SOURCE may be worth asking about when several of these are true:

• Your parent already has full Medicaid, often through SSI.
• A SOURCE provider serves your parent's county.
• Your parent has ongoing medical needs that benefit from a doctor on the team.
• Your family wants one team that can be reached after hours.

DCH's SOURCE overview says the care path weighs both medical monitoring and help with daily tasks. That can suit people whose health needs change often.

When might CCSP fit your parent?

CCSP may be the more likely path when:

• Your parent does not have Medicaid yet but may qualify after the financial screening.
• Your parent's Medicaid comes through the Medical Assistance Only route.
• No SOURCE provider covers your parent's county.
• Your parent mainly needs help with daily tasks, and their own doctor is enough for medical care.

Who makes the final decision?

Families do not pick the path on their own. Several people and agencies each play a part. These steps draw on DCH's EDWP materials and its draft EDWP renewal application.

1. 1

   Screening

   The Area Agency on Aging, or a SOURCE provider, screens your parent by phone and sets priority based on need.

2. 2

   Medicaid decision

   DFCS makes the final call on Medicaid eligibility and any cost share.

3. 3

   Level-of-care check

   A physician approves the nursing-home level of care, and the state's reviewer confirms it.

4. 4

   Choice of agency

   The applicant selects a care coordination agency, based on choice and availability.

5. 5

   Care plan

   The coordinator or SOURCE team builds the plan with your parent, the family and the doctor.

What should you ask on the first call?

A few clear questions can save weeks of back and forth. Keep this list by the phone.

1. Based on my parent's Medicaid, can they use CCSP, SOURCE or both?
2. Does a SOURCE provider serve my parent's county?
3. If my parent is not on Medicaid yet, what does DFCS need from us?
4. Is there a wait for services right now, and what affects my parent's place?
5. Can my parent have Enhanced case management if their health is complex?
6. Can a relative who lives with my parent be paid through Structured Family Caregiving?

For the full picture of EDWP, including its services and other waivers, read our guide to EDWP.

How A1-GA Healthcare Agency helps

A1-GA Healthcare Agency is a Georgia DCH-approved Medicaid home care provider in Norcross. We have provided in-home care since 2008 and staffed caregivers since 2004. We provide EDWP services through both CCSP and SOURCE, so we can talk through either path with you. We also offer Structured Family Caregiving.

If you are not sure which path your parent is likely to use, call us before your first screening. We will help you gather the facts the screener will ask for. You can also start with our eligibility form.

• Phone: 678-446-1832
• Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
• Email: info@gahac.com
• Office: 4505 Peachtree Industrial Blvd, Suite K, Norcross, GA 30092