This bill proposes the transfer of the operation of the Children's Medical Services Managed Care Plan from the Department of Health to the Agency for Health Care Administration, effective July 1, 2025. It mandates collaboration between the Children's Medical Services (CMS) program and the agency to provide care for children and youth with special health care needs, including clinical eligibility screenings and ongoing consultation. The bill also requires the agency to cover individual and family therapy services from specific behavioral health providers under certain conditions and seeks federal approval to amend Florida's Medicaid Model Waiver to include additional services for medically fragile children. Furthermore, it amends various sections of Florida Statutes to update definitions, eligibility requirements, and the scope of the CMS program, while also requiring an independent evaluation of services provided to these children and youth.

In addition to the operational transfer, the bill includes several amendments to Florida's Medicaid program, focusing on provider credentialing and the establishment of an all-inclusive care program for children. It allows for competitive bidding of single-source-provider contracts if it results in cost savings without limiting access to care. The bill also modifies training requirements for home health aides, increasing minimum training hours and establishing a minimum reimbursement rate. It sets a cap on the number of hours home health aides can work per day and mandates annual assessments of the program to evaluate caregiver satisfaction and hospitalization rates. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the quality of care for children with special health care needs while ensuring compliance with Medicaid policies.

Statutes affected:
S 1166 Filed: 409.906, 409.974, 391.016, 391.025, 391.026, 391.0315, 391.035, 391.045, 391.097, 409.166, 409.811, 409.813, 409.8134, 409.815, 409.8177, 409.818, 409.912, 409.9126, 409.9131, 409.920, 409.962, 409.968, 409.972, 400.54