2026 Cost Share | ADMINISTRATION-5600-MANUAL

Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) shall implement cost sharing for all eligible Older Americans Act (OAA) and state funded services and will use the fee scale provided by DAS.

The Older Americans Act §315(a) “Consumer Contributions,” as reauthorized in 2006, permits states to implement cost sharing in, “Consumer Contributions.” 42 U.S.C. § 3030c-2(a).
The Georgia General Assembly appropriates state funds to the Department/Division to be used to support or expand core supportive home and community-based services. It is the Division’s policy that all eligible Older Americans Act and state-funded services shall be subject to cost sharing.

The Older Americans Act prescribes that cost share be determined solely on individual income and the cost of providing services (OAA, Sec. 315 (a) (4).

Agencies will use the fee scale provided by the Division to determine the amount of cost share based on a declaration of individual income for both state-funded and OAA-funded services. Refer to Appendix K.

AAAs will obtain the views of older individuals, providers and other stakeholders on implementation of cost-sharing in the service area.

AAAs shall develop implementation plans for cost share which ensure that low income older persons will not be adversely affected, with particular attention to low income minority individuals. The plans should ensure that participation of low-income individuals and low-income minority individuals will not decrease as a result of implementing cost sharing. The AAAs will describe their implementation approach in updates to approved area plans.

Services subject to cost sharing for state funded or OAA funded services include, but are not limited to:

The cost share scale is revised annually based on revised Federal Poverty Guidelines. Staff responsible for determining cost share amounts on behalf of consumers will review and update cost share calculations no later than 30 days after publication of the revised cost share scale, prioritized by consumers whose cost share amounts are likely to change based on the revision. Consumers must be given a 30-day written notice of an increase in their cost share. Written notice (no time frame) must be given for a decrease in cost share.

Individuals subject to cost share will consist of an eligible individual who is in need of the supportive service.

Income information for consumers of non-Medicaid Home and Community Based Services will be provided only by a confidential declaration of income, with no requirement for verification.

DAS policy is that only the applicant’s statement, or declaration of income, or that of his/her authorized representative, is requested and documented in the individual’s client record retained in either electronic or conventional form.

Agencies will use the HCBS Income Worksheet as an interview guide and to document all sources of income received on a regular basis to be considered in determining the amount of fees to be assessed.

AAA or provider staff assisting consumers in application for other programs, such as Medicaid, SNAP, or TANF, should refer to the appropriate program manual(s) for guidance in verifying income for those programs.

Each AAA must develop a written policy describing how it will serve consumers who refuse to disclose income for cost-sharing purposes. DAS suggests that cost share amounts for individuals refusing to disclose income be based on the median income for individuals 60 and older in that region. The AAA may choose to use median incomes at the state level or at the county level if that method is advantageous to consumers.

The Older Americans Act prohibits denying services for which funds are received under the Act for an older individual due to the income of the individual or his/her failure to make a cost sharing payment.

AAAs/providers shall assure that adequate policies and procedures are implemented to address potential termination of services for non-payment of fees assessed for state-funded services and locally funded services. Intake and screening procedures should include provision of clear and complete information regarding the potential for cost share to applicants for services.
Reassessments are to include a review and update of the Income Worksheet as appropriate and any adjustments to the cost share that may be warranted, based on changes in individual income, changes in the federal poverty guidelines, out of pocket expenses or other circumstances. Staff are to advise consumers to report any changes in income or circumstances when they occur.

Refer to Section 2025.

42 U.S. Code § 3030c-2