Children's Medical Services (CMS) directly provides or coordinates specialty medical evaluations and treatment for eligible children (birth to age 21) with chronic medical conditions. CMS provides or pays for comprehensive physical evaluations, diagnostic tests, inpatient/outpatient hospitalization, medications and other medical treatments, therapy, durable medical equipment, hearing aids, and dental care related to the child's CMS-eligible condition. Genetics Services provides diagnosis, counseling, and treatment for a wide variety of genetic conditions as a CMS service. CMS works closely with the primary care provider to coordinate services. The focus of Children's Medical Services is to provide quality care and financial assistance with services that will enable children to receive medically necessary specialty services. These medical services may prevent further complications from their condition(s) and will promote healthy growth and development.
CMS is the state and federally funded Title V Children with Special Health Care Needs Program. Eligibility for the program includes medical and financial requirements. The financial requirements are updated yearly. Families with incomes greater than 150% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) through 236% of the FPL will be required to cost participate in the care of their child. Also, children who are Medicaid/PeachCare enrolled, receive SSI, or are in foster care are eligible for CMS services.
In CMS, children from birth to age 21 with eligible conditions receive comprehensive, coordinated specialty care. The medical eligibility includes, but is not limited to the following conditions:
- burns
- cardiac conditions
- chronic lung disease (including cystic fibrosis)
- craniofacial anomalies (including cleft lip/palate)
- diabetes mellitus
- gastrointestinal disorders
- hearing disorders
- spina bifida
- neurological and neurosurgical conditions (including epilepsy and hydrocephalus)
- orthopedic and/or neuromuscular disorders (including scoliosis)
- congenital or traumatic amputation of limbs
- cerebral palsy
- vision disorders (including cataracts, glaucoma, amblyopia and strabismus)
Programs & Services
CMS offers community-based services through a network of 19 districts (21 offices) that include the following: Albany, Athens, Augusta, Brunswick, Cobb, Clayton, Columbus, Cordele, Dalton, Dekalb, Dublin, Fulton, Gainesville, Gwinnett, LaGrange, Macon, Rome, Savannah, Statesboro, Valdosta and Waycross (sites in italics may have specialty clinics on-site). The Division of Public Health administers these sites through grant-in-aid contracts to the districts. At each site, care coordinators provide outreach, referral, care coordination, education and follow-up for clients and their families.
The CMS Program demonstrates a longstanding successful public-private partnership and provides care to over 10,500 children per year. This network includes physician specialists, therapists (OT and PT), audiologists, nutritionists, equipment providers, prosthetists, pharmacists, and others. CMS may provide or assist in paying for an array of services that include:
- comprehensive physical assessment
- diagnostic testing
- in-patient/out-patient hospital services
- medications
- medical treatments
- therapy
- durable and disposable medical equipment
- hearing aids
- dental care (if related to the CMS eligible condition)
- health education
- care coordination for client and family (may include referrals to other providers such as schools, day care, social service programs, etc)
- genetic consultations
Children's Medical Services
(404) 657-2726
e-mail: gdphinfo@dhr.state.ga.us