# How long does GAPP approval take in Georgia? Usually 3 to 4 weeks once the packet is complete. By Ava Family Services Intake and Nursing Team, reviewed by Ava Family Services leadership. Published 2026-09-30. Source: https://www.avafamilyservices.com/guides/how-long-does-gapp-approval-take Publisher: Ava Family Services, LLC, (404) 905-7699, 275 Interstate North Cir SE, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30339 > Once a complete application packet reaches the reviewer, Georgia's official guidance says GAPP review can take up to 30 days, and in Ava's experience the medical review usually takes about 3 to 4 weeks. Timelines vary from child to child. The part you control is how fast the packet becomes complete, and Ava has no waitlist, so that work starts the day you call. ## How long does GAPP approval take? GAPP approval in Georgia usually takes about 3 to 4 weeks of medical review once a complete application packet is submitted, in Ava Family Services' experience. Georgia Medicaid's own GAPP guidance says review "may take up to 30 days" after a complete packet. Every child is different, so treat both numbers as typical, not promised. ## Why you see different numbers online You will find GAPP timelines anywhere from two weeks to three months on agency websites. Most of the difference is the starting point. Some count from the first phone call, some from when Medicaid becomes active, and the official 30 days counts from a **complete** packet. The days that pass before the packet is complete are usually the longest part, and they are also the part a good agency can shorten. ## What has to be in place before the clock starts A GAPP packet is complete when the reviewer has everything needed to decide. For Georgia families that means: - **Georgia Medicaid.** Your child must have Medicaid, and your county DFCS office decides Medicaid eligibility before GAPP can approve services. If your income is too high for regular Medicaid, [Katie Beckett](https://www.avafamilyservices.com/gapp-application-help/katie-beckett) looks at your child's needs instead of family income. - **A doctor's order and plan of treatment.** All GAPP services need a physician's order, and the doctor signs a plan of treatment showing the nursing and personal care recommended. - **Records that match the plan.** Recent medical records that show why your child needs skilled nursing or hands-on care at home. At Ava, our admin team and intake nurses gather these forms and records with your permission, so you are not chasing paperwork from three offices. ## What slows GAPP approval down The most common delays Ava sees are paperwork, not reviewers: - Medicaid that is still pending, or coverage that changed. - A plan of treatment that is unsigned, out of date or doesn't match the records. - A care picture that leaves things out, especially overnight care. Parents of medically complex kids stop noticing tasks they do ten times a day. Our [guide to documenting daily care](https://www.avafamilyservices.com/guides/documenting-daily-care-for-gapp) shows what usually gets missed. ## What happens while you wait Waiting doesn't have to mean doing nothing. Ava has no waitlist, so while GAPP review is in progress our team learns your child's nursing needs, your family's preferred schedule and the kind of nurse who would fit best. Families take part in interviewing and choosing their nurse. That way staffing can start soon after the hours are approved. Every GAPP service still has to be approved in advance, so nursing hours begin after approval, not before. ## After approval GAPP approves care for a set period and is renewed every year. Ava's nurses and office work with your family and your child's doctor to keep each renewal on time, so approved care doesn't lapse. See [how GAPP renewal works](https://www.avafamilyservices.com/guides/gapp-renewal-georgia). ## Ready to start? Call Ava Family Services at [(404) 905-7699](tel:+14049057699), Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. A person answers, and we can usually tell you on the first call what your child's packet will need. *GAPP decisions, including whether services are approved and how many hours, are made by Georgia Medicaid's medical review. Ava guides your family through the process and prepares the paperwork with you.* ## Frequently asked questions ### How long does GAPP approval take? Timelines vary. Georgia's official guidance says review can take up to 30 days after a complete packet is submitted, and in Ava's experience the medical review usually takes about 3 to 4 weeks. ### Why do other websites say 30 to 90 days? Many count from a different starting point, such as the first phone call or before Medicaid is active. The official 30 days counts from a complete packet. Getting to a complete packet is where most of the time goes. ### Is there a waitlist at Ava? No. Ava has no waitlist and is accepting new families now. We start on your paperwork the day you call. ### Can nursing start before GAPP approves the hours? No. Every GAPP service has to be approved in advance. While review is in progress, Ava plans your child's nursing schedule with you so care can start soon after approval. ### What if my child doesn't have Medicaid yet? GAPP can't approve services until Medicaid is in place. If your family earns too much for regular Medicaid, ask about [Katie Beckett](https://www.avafamilyservices.com/gapp-application-help/katie-beckett), which looks at the child's needs instead of family income. ## Official sources - [Georgia Pediatric Program (GAPP) Presentation, GAMMIS (June 2023)](https://www.mmis.georgia.gov/portal/Portals/0/StaticContent/Public/ALL/NOTICES/GAPP%20Presentation%20Finalized%20June%2026%2023%202%2020230630141655.pdf) - [Waiver Programs, Georgia Medicaid](https://medicaid.georgia.gov/programs/all-programs/waiver-programs) - [TEFRA / Katie Beckett, Georgia Medicaid](https://medicaid.georgia.gov/tefrakatie-beckett)