This bill proposes a significant restructuring of the Children's Medical Services (CMS) Managed Care Plan by transferring its operation 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 establish evaluation measures for the services provided and to contract with an independent evaluator to assess service quality and effectiveness. The bill amends several sections of Florida Statutes to reflect these changes, including revisions to the CMS program's purposes, functions, definitions, and eligibility requirements, while repealing certain provisions related to oversight and provider qualifications.

Furthermore, the bill expands eligibility for the Children's Medical Services Safety Net program to include children and youth up to 21 years of age who require specialized services but do not qualify for Medicaid or Title XXI. It introduces new provisions for early intervention services, respite services, genetic testing, and counseling, while also modifying the Florida Kidcare program to ensure that children with special health care needs are served through plans contracted with the agency. The bill removes references to the Children's Medical Services Network in various contexts and establishes a new framework for delivering health care services to these children. Additionally, it mandates the agency to develop a comprehensive plan for redesigning the Florida Medicaid Model Waiver for home and community-based services, with a report due by December 31, 2025, outlining the plan's details and stakeholder engagement.

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
S 1490 c1: 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
S 1490 c2: 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