Children’s Medical Services is a statewide program that supports children, youth and young adults (birth – 21) with special health care needs and their families. Children’s Medical Services provides assistance to eligible families and young adults with accessing timely and affordable health care services as well as needed resources within their communities.

Children’s Medical Services works with the child and young adult’s primary and specialty medical specialists to provide or coordinate for:

• Genetic Counseling
• Inpatient/Outpatient Hospitalization
• Durable Medical Equipment
• Medications and Supplies
• Diagnostic Testing

The CHILDREN’S MEDICAL SERVICES program:

• Supports improved health and wellness for children and youth with special health care needs from birth to 21 years of age
• Provides early and continuous screening for children with special health care needs
• Connects children and youth to a medical home and adequate health insurance
• Help families manage their appointments and follow up treatments with health care providers and vendors
• Shares community resources with families
• Supports adolescents move from pediatric to adult health care
• 8,085 Georgia children and youth received services in SFY2018

Eligibility for the Children’s Medical Services program is based on the following: 

• Eligible medical condition
• Annual Family Income: click here to view CMS INCOME Requirements
• Live in Georgia

Examples of eligible medical conditions include, but are not limited to:

• 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

Click to Search a Comprehensive List of Conditions

Services provided for the following counties:

Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield.

Please click here for additional services provided statewide or to contact the Children’s Medical Services State Office.

For more information about eligibility, services provided and enrollment into the program please call:

Children’s Medical Services
1710 Whitehouse Court
Dalton, GA 30720
Phone:(706)-529-5763
Fax: (706) 529-5767
Email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Got a question?

Click to view our FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

See our brochures below for more information:

CMS Brochure (ENGLISH) 

CMS Brochure (SPANISH)

NEED TO MAKE A REFERRAL? Complete the the form below and fax to 706-529-5767.

 Children’s First Screening and Universal Referral Form 2018 

RESOURCES:

Parent to Parent of Georgia:

Provide services to children and youth with disabilities and their families. Services include an on-line data base of various resources locally, educational trainings for parents and parent support program.

Web: http://p2pga.org

Special Needs Database: http://p2pga.org/index.php/database

Call: 1-800-229-2038.

Healthy Mother’s Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia:

Provide services to expectant families. Services include prenatal education and resources to expectant mothers, breastfeeding support and education, and assistance with accessing health insurance.

Web: http://hmhbga.org/

Healthy Mother’s Healthy Babies Portal: https://www.resourcehouse.com/hmhb/

Call: 1-800-300-9003.

American Academy of Pediatrics – GA Chapter: The official website of the American Academy of Pediatrics for parents on accurate, trusted and up-to-date information on issues regarding infants, children and adolescents.

Web: http://www.gaaap.org/

Purpose of Program

Newborn hearing screening is screening for hearing loss. All babies should be screened for hearing loss before 1 month of age.  The screening is typically done before the baby leaves the birthing facility. 

What does the program do?

Along with the Newborn Metabolic Screening Program and Children 1st, the EHDI Program maintains and supports a comprehensive, coordinated, statewide screening and referral system. EHDI includes screening for hearing loss in the birthing hospital; referral of those who do not pass the hospital screening for rescreening; for newborns who do not pass the rescreening referral for diagnostic audiological evaluation; and, linkage to appropriate intervention for those babies diagnosed with hearing loss. Technical assistance and training about implementing and maintaining a quality newborn hearing screening program is provided to hospitals, primary care physicians, audiologists, early interventionists, and public health staff.

Why is the program important?

The most crucial period for language development is the first year of life. Without newborn screening, hearing loss is typically not identified until two years of age. Screening for all newborns prior to discharge from the hospital or birthing center is essential for the earliest possible identification of hearing loss and, consequently, for language, communication, educational and reading potential to be maximized.

More than half of babies born with hearing problems are otherwise healthy and have no family history of hearing loss.  If your baby has a hearing loss, you can still help your baby develop language skills. The sooner you act, the better the outcome.  Screening for hearing loss as early as possible is important to your baby because:

• Early screening allows for early treatment, if hearing loss is detected
• Early treatment can provide earlier sound stimulation for your baby's brain

Contact Information

WHITFIELD COUNTY, GA – A case of hepatitis A has been diagnosed in a food handler at Crescent City Tavern located in downtown Dalton. An investigation found that this employee worked while infectious this past December 28 through January 31. It is relatively rare for restaurant patrons to become infected with hepatitis A virus due to an infected food handler, but anyone who consumed food or drink at the Crescent City Tavern on the above dates should contact their healthcare provider to determine if a hepatitis A immunization is needed to prevent the disease.

Hepatitis A immunization is also available at the Whitfield County Health Department at 800 Professional Boulevard in Dalton through the Child Health Program with no out-of-pocket cost, regardless of insurance status.

Anyone who consumed food and/or drink at the restaurant on the dates that employee worked is also asked to:

1. Monitor their health for symptoms of hepatitis A infection up to 50 days after exposure.
2. Wash their hands with soap and warm water frequently and thoroughly, especially after using the bathroom and before preparing food.
3. Stay at home and contact their healthcare provider immediately if symptoms of hepatitis A infection develop.

Careful hand washing, including under the fingernails, with soap and water, along with vaccination of anyone at risk of infection, will prevent the spread of this disease.

Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver that can cause loss of appetite, nausea, tiredness, fever, stomach pain, dark-colored urine and light-colored stools. Yellowing of the skin or eyes may also appear. People can become ill up to 50 days after being exposed to the virus.

Hepatitis A is acquired when a person unknowingly ingests the virus from objects, food, or drinks contaminated by small, undetected amounts of stool from an infected person. The virus spreads when an infected person does not wash his/her hands adequately after using the toilet or engages in behaviors that increase risk of infection.

For more information on hepatitis A, go to www.cdc.gov/hepatitis. Also, please click here for hepatitis A talking points related to this incident and here for hepatitis A general information from the CDC.

Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Georgia is February 4 - 8, 2019

  

As we approach what is typically the most active part of the year for severe weather, Severe Weather Preparedness Week provides an excellent opportunity to learn more about the dangers of severe weather, as well as knowing how and when to take proper actions when severe weather is expected and hits.  Please take the time now to review your home, school, or businesses preparedness plans. Each day is dedicated to a different topic that addresses severe weather preparedness. Throughout the week, the topics to be covered include:

• Monday - Family Preparedness (NWR + Wireless Emergency Alerts)
• Tuesday - Thunderstorm Safety (Hail & Damaging Wind Threats/Impacts)
• Wednesday - Tornado Safety  **NWR TEST Warning Message - 9 AM**
• Thursday - Lightning Safety
• Friday - Flash Flooding/Flood Safety