The bill proposes a major restructuring of Florida's Children's Medical Services (CMS) program by transferring its Managed Care Plan operations from the Department of Health to the Agency for Health Care Administration, effective July 1, 2025. This transition includes the transfer of all related statutory powers, duties, functions, records, personnel, and existing contracts. The CMS program is mandated to collaborate with the Agency to provide care for children and youth with special health care needs, conduct clinical eligibility screenings, and ensure high-quality, coordinated health services. The Agency is also required to establish evaluation measures and contract with an independent evaluator to assess service performance and outcomes.

Additionally, the bill expands eligibility for the CMS program to include children and youth with serious special health care needs from birth to 21 years and introduces the "Children's Medical Services Safety Net" program for those not qualifying for Medicaid or Title XXI. Families will contribute financially based on a sliding fee scale. The bill updates benefits under the CMS Managed Care Plan to include services like early intervention and genetic counseling, and it includes a sunset provision for certain sections to be repealed by January 1, 2026. It also mandates the Agency to develop a comprehensive plan for redesigning the Florida Medicaid Model Waiver for home- and community-based services, particularly for children receiving private duty nursing services, with a report due by December 31, 2025.

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
S 1490 er: 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