---
title: O.C.G.A. § 49-4-169. Legislative findings and intent.
collection: code
id: 49-4-169
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 49-4-169 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/49-4-169
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/49-4-169.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/49-4-169/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t49-t50-ch1-12-(v38)-2023-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=60c992b5_0#page=173
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/49-4.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/49-4-168.6.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/49-4-169.1.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: SOCIAL SERVICES / PUBLIC ASSISTANCE / THERAPY SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES
extraction_warnings:
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---

# O.C.G.A. § 49-4-169. Legislative findings and intent.

The General Assembly finds that changes in the approval process of certain health care programs have made it difficult for children with disabilities who are eligible for medical assistance pursuant to Article 7 of this chapter to receive the services to which they are entitled with the frequency and within the time periods which are appropriate. Separate administration of the categorically needy and the medically fragile programs should not result in any variation in the amount, duration, and scope of services. Redundant paperwork requirements have hampered service approvals and delivery and reduced the number of providers serving children. It is the intent of this article to ensure that children with disabilities receive the medically necessary therapy services to which they are entitled under the Medicaid Early Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment Program and that categorically needy and medically fragile children have available to them the same scope, duration, and amount of services. It is also the intent of this article to simplify the process and paperwork by which occupational, speech, and physical therapy services are applied for and received by eligible recipients.

## History

Code 1981, § 49-4-169, enacted by Ga. L. 2008, p. 743, § 1/SB 507.