Children's Medical Services

Mission

The mission of the Children’s Medical Services (CMS) Program is to provide a comprehensive system of healthcare for children and youth with eligible chronic medical conditions from birth to twenty-one years of age. CMS is intended to ensure specialty healthcare services to these children of Georgia who live in low income households. These services are administered by CMS in a family-focused, coordinated, and culturally-caring approach. CMS works to provide improved health outcomes for the children with special healthcare needs by coordinating their access to affordable quality specialty healthcare in our communities and by using the resources in a responsible manner.

Overview

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 participate in the cost of the care of their child. Children who are Medicaid or PeachCare enrolled, who receive SSI, and who are in foster care are financially eligible for CMS services.

CMS offers care coordination by nursing and professional staff for every child. Medical and surgical treatment services may be available through private providers. These services may include hospitalization, physician service, surgical service, durable medical equipment, medicines, and supplies for the medical eligible condition(s).

In CMS, children from birth to age 21 with eligible chronic medical conditions receive comprehensive, coordinated specialty care. The medical eligibility includes, but is not limited to the following conditions:

• Asthma, cystic fibrosis, and other lung disorders
• Some hearing disorders
• Neurological and neurosurgery disorders including seizures, benign tumors, hydrocephalus, and others
• Orthopedic and/or neuromuscular disorders including cerebral palsy, spina bifida, scoliosis, clubfeet, congenital or traumatic amputations of limbs, and others
• Visual disorders including cataracts, glaucoma, strabismus, and others
• Diabetes and other endocrine and genetic disorders
• Craniofacial anomalies (including cleft lip/palate)
• Congenital cardiac conditions

For more information about our program and to find the CMS program in your area, click here.