Getting your Katie Beckett approval is a huge milestone — but there’s a whole new to-do list waiting on the other side. This guide walks you through what to do next after Katie Beckett approval: getting your Medicaid card, logging into the portal, backdating bills, telling providers, renewals, and more so nothing falls through the cracks.
Quick Navigation
- Getting Your Medicaid Card
- Logging Into the GAMMIS Portal
- Backdating Bills & Effective Date
- Telling Your Providers
- Renewals & Keeping Records
- HIPP Program: Premium Reimbursement
- Resources & Next Steps
- FAQs
Getting Your Medicaid Card
After Katie Beckett approval, your child’s Medicaid card should arrive in the mail. For one of my sons it came within a week — for the other it took over a month. If yours doesn’t show up, don’t just wait. Call the Katie Beckett office at 678-248-7449 and they’ll connect you with a caseworker who can look into it.
In our case there was a glitch in the system that required a supervisor to clear before the card could be issued. The caseworker was aware of the issue but it needed that extra step to get resolved. Calling got it moving — it wouldn’t have fixed itself.
You can also request a new card directly through the GAMMIS portal once you’re logged in.
Logging Into the GAMMIS Portal
The Georgia GAMMIS portal at mmis.georgia.gov is where you manage your child’s Medicaid information online. Getting in for the first time takes a few steps — you’ll need to call the Gainwell Help Desk, use your child’s Medicaid ID as your username, and get a one-time password to set up your account.
For the full step-by-step login walkthrough including a tip that will save you a headache with the one-time password: See the GAMMIS Portal Guide »
Backdating Bills & Your Effective Date
Once you’re logged into GAMMIS, scroll to the bottom of your account page to find your child’s effective date — the date Medicaid coverage officially began. This may go back further than the date you received your approval letter.
Take that date and call each of your care providers. Ask whether they can file claims going back to the effective date. Many can — which means you may be reimbursed for services you already paid out of pocket while waiting for approval.
Important caveat on preauthorization: Many rehabilitative services — including most of the therapies listed on the KB application — require preauthorization before Medicaid will pay. For backdated claims, Medicaid will typically only allow preauthorization to go back 30 days from the approval date. If your approval took longer due to an appeal, you may owe significantly more out of pocket than you expected. For us, the appeal process meant we owed three months of services instead of one. This is something to be aware of and to ask providers about upfront.
Always ask for a reference number when you call the Medicaid line or speak with a billing department. Write it down and pass it to your provider — it’s useful documentation if questions come up later.
Telling Your Providers
Once you have your card and effective date, contact your providers to let them know your child now has Medicaid as a secondary insurance. Many providers default to billing only what’s in their system — so unless you tell them, they may not know to bill Medicaid.
Mention it at every appointment until you’re confident it’s firmly in your file. It’s also worth deciding over time whether you want to switch to providers that accept Medicaid as primary — but that doesn’t have to happen right away.
Renewals & Keeping Records
Katie Beckett approval isn’t permanent — it requires periodic renewals. A few things I learned the hard way:
Don’t follow the number on the renewal notice. The state sends out a generic renewal reminder that applies to all government-funded services — the contact information on it is not specific to Katie Beckett. When you get that notice, call the KB office directly at 678-248-7449 for instructions specific to your renewal. I made the mistake of following the generic notice and it caused unnecessary confusion.
Your renewal comes sooner than you think. Regardless of when you were approved, the renewal notice is sent out approximately three months before the anniversary of when you originally applied — not when you were approved. If your approval took months or involved an appeal, you may have less breathing room before your first renewal than you expected.
The first renewal is mostly demographic. For the first renewal, the KB office will instruct you to download a generic renewal packet used across all government-funded programs. You only fill out the sections they specifically tell you to complete — so call first and get those instructions before you start filling anything out.
The 2-Year Full Medical Renewal
Katie Beckett renewals alternate between a basic demographic renewal (year 1) and a full medical renewal (year 2), then continue to alternate from there. The full renewal is more involved — it’s closer in scope to the original application and requires updated medical documentation.
I haven’t personally been through the full medical renewal yet, so rather than guess at the details I want to be upfront about that. What I do know:
- Call the KB office at 678-248-7449 well in advance — don’t wait for the notice to arrive
- Updated physician documentation will likely be required
- Remember psychological evaluations need to be repeated at least every 3 years if you are applying for Intermediate Care Facility for the Intellectually Disabled (ICF/ID) Level of Care
- Current therapy notes and evaluations should be kept organized and ready
- The same supporting templates from your original application may be helpful again
I’ll update this section as I go through the process myself. In the meantime, the Debbie Dobbs free resources and her Facebook group are a good place to ask others who have been through it.
Keeping Records
Beyond renewals, keep an eye on your coverage period in GAMMIS and download any notices that appear there as PDFs for your records. Start a binder or a dedicated folder in Google Drive (or both) to keep:
- Approval and denial letters
- Therapy notes and evaluations
- Reference numbers from Medicaid calls
- Provider billing records
- Renewal notices
Having everything organized makes renewals, appeals, and provider conversations significantly easier.
HIPP Program: Get Reimbursed for Your Insurance Premium
Once your child qualifies for Katie Beckett, you may also be eligible for the Health Insurance Premium Payment (HIPP) program. HIPP can reimburse you for the monthly premium you’re paying on your primary private insurance — for our family that’s almost $500 a month.
Important: qualifying for KB does not automatically enroll you in HIPP. You have to apply separately and submit additional documentation. I have a video walking through the HIPP application and will be sharing more as I continue through the process myself.
For more information contact the HIPP office: 678-564-1162
Resources & Next Steps
- 🏠 Katie Beckett in Georgia: Full Parent Guide
- 💻 Using the Georgia GAMMIS Portal
- ⚖️ How to Appeal a Katie Beckett Denial
- 📋 Forms & Supporting Documents Guide
- Debbie Dobbs free resources (40+ pages covering what you may now qualify for): debbiedobbs.com/free-resources
Georgia Medicaid info line: 1-800-766-4456
KB/TEFRA program phone: 678-248-7449
Official GAMMIS portal: mmis.georgia.gov
FAQ
How long after Katie Beckett approval will I receive the Medicaid card?
It varies — for one of my sons it came within a week, for the other it took over a month due to a system glitch. If yours hasn’t arrived after a couple of weeks, call the Katie Beckett office at 678-248-7449 rather than waiting.
Can I backdate claims for services we already paid for?
Possibly, yes. Check your effective date in GAMMIS and contact your providers to ask if they can file claims back to that date. Many can. Keep in mind that preauthorization for rehabilitative services typically only goes back 30 days from the approval date. Always get a reference number when you call.
Do I need to switch providers after approval?
Not necessarily. Many families keep their current providers and use KB Medicaid as secondary. Over time you may want to evaluate whether switching to Medicaid-primary providers makes more financial sense for your family.
When does Katie Beckett need to be renewed?
Renewals alternate between a basic demographic renewal and a full medical renewal every other year. The notice comes approximately three months before the anniversary of when you originally applied — not when you were approved. Always call the KB office directly at 678-248-7449 for renewal instructions rather than following the generic state notice.
What other programs might we qualify for now?
Qualifying for Katie Beckett can open doors to other programs and funding sources. The HIPP program may reimburse your private insurance premium. Debbie Dobbs offers a free resource packet covering 40+ pages of what you may now be eligible for: debbiedobbs.com/free-resources
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