Georgia Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Communities, and Other Provider Types Must Now Make Licensure Filings (Including for CHOWs) via Portal

With few exceptions, licensed Georgia providers, including but not limited to, nursing homes, assisted living communities, personal care homes, hospices, home health agencies, and community living arrangements, will now file applications via the Georgia Department of Community Health’s (“DCH”) application portal. However, while the process of making submissions has changed, the substantive components of the applications have generally remained unchanged.

Once a provider accesses the portal link, there is a six-step process to complete and file an application. Below is a brief summary of the steps.

• Step 1 – Identify Provider: While the portal may be used for initial filings, existing providers may also access the portal by searching its “doing business as” name or address. Once a provider has identified its license in the portal, the next application “page” will appear.

• Step 2 – Identify Application Type: The provider will next select the purpose of its application. For example, an assisted living community may choose from the following application types:
  • Address change (not a relocation);
  • Change of Ownership;
  • Conversion from Assisted Living Community to PCH;
  • Decrease in bed capacity;
  • Facility Name Change;
  • Governing Body Name Change (not a change of ownership);
  • Increase in bed capacity;
  • Memory Care Certification;
  • Variance; and
  • Waiver.

Only one may be selected per application. At this stage, the provider will also select a contact person.

• Step 3 – Basic Information: The portal will generate a list of application components for the specific application type selected. The provider will also populate basic information within the portal, such as identifying the governing body name and its contact information.

• Step 4 – Uploads: Once basic information is provided, Step 4 will allow for an item-by-item upload of application materials, such as formation documents of the license holder/applicant, business licenses, background checks, and the affidavit of personal identification. The applicant must then check a box confirming all forms and documents have been completed.

• Step 5 – Fee: The portal will populate a link for application fee payment and request the payment confirmation number (received once the fee is submitted).

• Step 6 – Signature: The applicant must execute the application and then may click “submit.”

In the past, providers may have been able to pay only a single fee per paper application submitted, even if multiple actions were being requested (e.g., a capacity decrease and name change). However, providers should note that because only one action may be selected per submission, a fee may be required for each application. Additionally, providers should be aware that the portal will not generate a summary of the filing, so screenshots should be taken and saved as the application is completed.

For more information, please contact AGG Healthcare partners Hedy Rubinger or Alex Foster.

The Arnall Golden Gregory CHOW team leads all regulatory aspects of healthcare transactions for investors, operators, managers, capital partners, and developers of every size in all 50 states. The team streamlines the regulatory process so that clients close their transactions on or ahead of schedule. Whether obtaining licensure and Medicare/Medicaid approvals, structuring transactions to expedite closings, anticipating issues to minimize cash flow disruption, negotiating regulatory terms in deal documents, creatively resolving diligence issues, or advising on CHOW guidelines and compliance, the team provides extensive experience and practical solutions. To date, the CHOW team has served as primary regulatory counsel in transactions valued at more than $35 billion.