Director’s Column

By Director Barbara Palmer

As many of you are aware, Florida’s Legislative Session is in full swing. I have been at the Capitol talking to various Legislators and their employees about the needs of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD). I wanted to share the top financial requests we have asked of Legislators for the 2017-2018 state fiscal year.

Additional Funding to Serve Remaining Individuals with Critical Needs on Waiting List

$7.5 million Total ($2.9 million General Revenue)
Funds are provided to transition approximately 700 individuals with critical needs remaining on the waiting list to the Home and Community-Based Services
Amount represents half of the $15 million estimated cost because individuals do not use their entire cost plans in the first year

Continue Waiver Provider Rates for USDOL

$41 million Total ($15.7 million General Revenue)
Change rates to actuarially sound rates that are sufficient for providers to meet the USDOL requirement to pay minimum wage to direct care workers

Increase Waiver Rates for Nursing Services

$3.4 million Total ($1.3 million General Revenue)
Increase rates to the same level as Medicaid State Plan rates for nursing services

New Waiver Intensive Behavior Models

$4.6 million ($1.8 million General Revenue)
Implement new residential models to serve individuals with extreme behaviors in community-based settings

Staff Augmentation

$4.7 million Total ($2.8 million General Revenue)
Provides additional staff to ensure the health and safety of clients

Client Data Management System called APD iConnect

$4 million Total (approved for enhanced Medicaid matching funds)
Continue implementation to provide centralized client records and electronic visit verification (EVV) to reduce Medicaid fraud, waste, and abuse

Employment and Internship Supports

$3.3 million General Revenue
Will provide supported employment and supported internship services for individuals on the waiting list who have indicated that they want to go to work

We are optimistic that these funding requests will be supported in the final budget. We will update you in the June Champion on the outcome.