This bill proposes the transfer of the operation of the Children's Medical Services (CMS) Managed Care Plan from the Department of Health to the Agency for Health Care Administration, effective July 1, 2025. It mandates collaboration between the 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 agency is also required to seek federal approval to amend Florida's Medicaid Model Waiver to include services for children receiving private duty nursing, ensuring they can remain in home or community settings. The bill amends various sections of Florida Statutes to reflect these changes, including revisions to definitions, eligibility requirements, and the scope of the CMS program, while establishing a requirement for the agency to evaluate services and report findings to the Governor and Legislature by January 15, 2028.

Additionally, the bill introduces a Medical Foster Care Program and expands eligibility for services to include children and youth with serious special health care needs up to 21 years of age. Significant deletions from current law include the removal of the Children's Medical Services network and its funding mechanisms, as well as the repeal of several statutory provisions effective January 1, 2026. The bill modifies eligibility criteria for the Florida Kidcare program, allowing children with special health care needs to enroll in plans under contract with the agency instead of the previous CMS network. It also emphasizes the use of accepted auditing methods for determining overpayments to physicians and redefines terms related to managed care plans, excluding the Children's Medical Services Network from these definitions.

Statutes affected:
S 1490 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