Gov. DeSantis administration: $1.1 billion in Medicaid money on its way

Dollar packs in the capsule, pill. Healthcare costs or financial
'The question you ask is really, obviously, very timely.'

The federal government has given Florida “conditional approval” of a plan to pump $1.1 billion in increased federal Medicaid funds into home and community based services, according to a top healthcare official in Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration.

Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Simone Marstiller told members of the House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee this week that her agency was preparing budget documents that would spell out how the state plans to distribute the money among the various home and community based services providers that treat people on the Managed Long Term Care and iBudget Medicaid waivers.

“We have received conditional approval from federal CMS on our plan and now we are preparing our budget amendment to go before the (Legislative Budget Commission),” Marstiller said.

The Agency for Health Care Administration did not immediately respond to Florida Politics’ request for additional information Monday night.

The agency sent Florida Politics a statement prior to the meeting saying it was working on the details of budget amendments it would submit to legislators for approval and was finalizing its “methodology and application processes and procedures to ensure timely and accurate payments are made to eligible providers.”

The statement did not mention conditional approval of the $1.1 billion plan. The additional funds are made possible by Congress’ decision to include in the American Rescue Plan a 10% increase in the federal Medicaid match for the provision of home and community based services.

The federal funds are flowing into the state as the home and community based services industry is at a tipping point. Group homes that provide services to people with developmental and intellectual disabilities are shutting their doors or not taking new clients, the result of going more than a decade without a Medicaid rate increase from the state.

Florida Developmental Disabilities Council Chief Executive Director Val Breen said they were not aware the plan had received conditional approval and said she is not sure what that means for providers who are scrambling to make ends meet.

“What this means to our providers is still unknown. We still do not know how the money is going to be used to actually address the significant crisis that is going on with facilities remaining open and staff remaining on board to care for our most vulnerable population,” Breen said Tuesday.

The Florida Health Justice Project, meanwhile, has been tracking the stories of people on The Managed Long Term Care Waiver who are unable to receive home and community based services they need to keep them out of nursing homes.

AHCA and Agency for Persons with Disabilities officials had previously said they expected President Joe Biden‘s administration to approve Florida’s plan and that the approval was “imminent.”

Marstiller’s comments Monday, though, are the first public statements from the DeSantis administration acknowledging the state’s plan to infuse $1.1 billion into home and community based services over the next two years had been approved.

Christine Jordan Sexton

Tallahassee-based health care reporter who focuses on health care policy and the politics behind it. Medicaid, health insurance, workers’ compensation, and business and professional regulation are just a few of the things that keep me busy.


7 comments

  • TaraMiller

    October 12, 2021 at 9:49 am

    I got $97450 up to now this year working on the online and I’m a full time student. I’AM profited. It’s really vgf simple to know and I’m in order that cheerful that I got some answers regarding it. Here what I do….

  • Alex

    October 12, 2021 at 11:00 am

    Waaahhh it’s socialist Medicaid!!

    DeSantis a commie in a false flag deep state jewish space lasers pedo ring!

    Fuck DeSantis!

    (See how moronic you Republicans sound?)

    • Tom

      October 12, 2021 at 5:09 pm

      No I think you sound mentally ill.
      Repubs.are not advocates for more govt.

      You are a socialist that is a hater.
      It will be better administered by Gov DeSantis, compared to you or your failed candidates. Focused on truly needy,

      You do need serious attention.

      Your melt downs are worse and worse.

  • CBD SEO agency

    October 12, 2021 at 11:45 am

    Hello! This article piqued my attention! Any business owner should do this! That conversation may assist both the employee and the management clear up misconceptions and establish communication! I’d want to verify this with my workers, but they need to be informed. That said, I believe such a plan may help the employee finally have a normal discussion with their employer. Thanks!

  • Tom

    October 12, 2021 at 5:26 pm

    Sorry Alex, Sen Scott says Dem. Socialists threaten our Democracy.

    How long does it take to paddle to Cuba.

    LMAO

  • Bob Zimmerman

    October 13, 2021 at 10:14 pm

    These funds are a blessing for the Disabled. Many children are born with disabilities at no fault of there own. They are mentally and physically disabled. As a society we need to take care of this population. Thank you to Gov. Ron DeSantis!

    • Tom

      October 13, 2021 at 11:06 pm

      Yes, you are correct Bob.
      I pray for those in need and needed assistance. We appreciate America’s Gov.

      Alex does need special analysis.
      Just saying.

Comments are closed.


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