On Monday, Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) submitted a $1.1 billion spending plan for home and community-based services (HCBS) to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The funding would come from increased Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAP) outlined under President Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The 10-point percentage increase will last for three years.
A majority of the spending plan consists of one-time payments to support HCBS waiver programs. Approximately $356.4 million will provide one-time stipends to support current HCBS program activities, and approximately $266.6 million will provide one-time payments to recruit new direct care workers and increase current workers’ retention rate.
One of Florida’s most significant HCBS waiver programs is the Developmental Disabilities Individual Budgeting Waiver (iBudget). Funding would contribute $191.3 million to remove approximately 20,000 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities from the program’s waiting list. Florida Health Justice Project Director/Founder Miriam Harmatz noted the importance of expanding care services to people’s homes, according to the Center Square.