- Recent Budget Cuts
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The state of Florida has made steep cuts to the Agency For Persons With Disabilities Medicaid Waiver Program. These cuts include the elimination of five services. Cuts also include a 5.5 percent rate reduction for all providers. Support Coordination rates have been cut by 16-58 percent (depending on how many children in family homes they serve). The legislation also mandated a four tier system, and three of the four tiers will have spending caps for services.
- Contact Your Legislators. Tell Them That Providers Can Not Afford Any More Rate Cuts.
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Please write to WaiverInfo@aol.com if you know of any other resources.
Eliminated Services
The following services are no longer covered under the medicaid waiver program.
- Massage Therapy
- Non-Residential Supports and Services (NRSS)
- Chore
- Homemaker
- Psychological Assessment
Support Coordinators Take The Hardest Hits
The Agency For Persons With Disabilities proposed in August of 2007 that it would be best to make all private support coordinators state workers. Families, Providers, and Advocacy Organizations fought the move to state workers.
Although Support Coordinators were allowed to keep their jobs, steep rate cuts soon followed.
Support Coordinators rates were reduced by 16-58 percent.
The rate cuts for Support Coordinators put many out of business, only a few short months after they were implemented.
Need A Group Home?
Need A WheelChair?
Additional 3-7 Percent Rate Cuts For All Providers
The latest cuts are expected to take place on July 1st, 2008.
We will keep you updated, as we learn the details.
Group Home Providers Get New Rates
The rates for group home providers were restructured.
Oddly enough, some group home providers got INCREASES, while others received steep cuts and might close their doors.
Supported Living Services Reduced to a Maximum of 20 hours per month.
Prior to the budget cuts, Supported Living Services were provided based on need.
People who also get in home supports services, are now only allowed 20 hours per month of supported living services.
PCA Rate Reduced To a Flat $15 per Hour. Also, Medicaid Will Soon Take Over PCA for People Under 21.
Prior to the budget cuts, Personal Care Assistance rates were slightly higher for clients with more intense needs. Now there is a standard rate of $15 per hour.
It is expected that by December of 2008, that the medicaid waiver will no longer pay for PCA for people under the age of 21. Providers who would like to continue working with their clients under the age of 21 need to get enrolled with ACHA.
Four Tiers
Many people will soon be forced to give up services due to a new Tier System. Almost everyone will have spending caps.
Tier Four Tier 4 $14,792
(Most Kids and People Who Only Have The FSL Waiver)
- Right Now Has- The FSL/ Florida Supported Living Waiver.
OR
- Is under 22, AND lives in a family home.
OR
- Is a dependent child who lives in a group home setting.
*** Most kids will be in this tier. See other tiers for intensive behavior and/or medical needs. ****
Tier Three Tier 3 $35,000
Is 21 or Older AND (must meet one)
-Lives in a group home setting.
-Gets in home supports in their OWN HOME. (supported living environment)
- Gets Personal Care Assistance (PCA) at the MODERATE rate.
- Gets Skilled or Private Duty Nursing.
- Gets A Therapy Service (Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, or Respitory Therapy.
OR
- Gets Behavior Analyst and/or behavior assistant service and is 22 or older.
Or
- Gets More than 60 hours a month of behavior analyst and/ or behavior assistant service.
Tier Two Tier 2 $55,000
- Gets Residential Habilitation services at the moderate rate.
Or
- Gets Supported Living AND over 6 hours per day of in home supports.
Tier One Tier 1 No Cap At This Time
NEEDS CAN NOT BE MET IN OTHER TIERS! (essential for avoiding institutionalization)
Behavioral Needs That exceed what can be met in the other tiers. (A substantial risk of harm to themselves or others.)
Residential Habilitation At:
- Behavior Intensive
- Behavior Focus
- Standard at Extensive 1 or Higher
- Special Medical Home Care
- Nursing.
