| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to the Medical Care Advisory Committee; |
| 3 | creating s. 409.91194, F.S.; creating the Medical Care |
| 4 | Advisory Committee under the Agency for Health Care |
| 5 | Administration; providing for membership, meetings, and |
| 6 | duties; providing for reimbursement for per diem and |
| 7 | travel expenses; requiring a report to the Legislature; |
| 8 | providing an effective date. |
| 9 |
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| 10 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 11 |
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| 12 | Section 1. Section 409.91194, Florida Statutes, is created |
| 13 | to read: |
| 14 | 409.91194 Medical Care Advisory Committee.-- |
| 15 | (1) The Secretary for Health Care Administration shall |
| 16 | appoint a Medical Care Advisory Committee to advise the Agency |
| 17 | for Health Care Administration about the Florida Medicaid |
| 18 | program, consistent with the requirements of federal law. |
| 19 | (2) The committee shall be composed of not fewer than 15 |
| 20 | or more than 25 members, with at least 51 percent of the |
| 21 | membership consisting of current or former Medicaid recipients, |
| 22 | their parents or guardians, or Medicaid advocates, including |
| 23 | representatives of special needs populations. The terms of |
| 24 | office of the members shall be for 3 years, and members may |
| 25 | serve no more than two consecutive 3-year terms. However, a term |
| 26 | of less than 3 years may be used to ensure that no more than |
| 27 | five members' terms expire during the same calendar year. A |
| 28 | vacancy occurring during a term shall be filled for the |
| 29 | unexpired portion of the term in the same manner as the initial |
| 30 | appointment was made. |
| 31 | (3) At the first meeting each year, the members shall |
| 32 | elect a chair and a vice chair. The committee shall meet at |
| 33 | least quarterly, and committee members shall be provided written |
| 34 | notice of the meetings at least 20 days before the date of the |
| 35 | meeting. Subject to appropriation, the Agency for Health Care |
| 36 | Administration shall provide staff and administrative support to |
| 37 | the committee for the committee's activities and duties as |
| 38 | provided in this section. |
| 39 | (4) The members of the committee shall serve without |
| 40 | compensation, but are entitled to reimbursement for per diem and |
| 41 | travel expenses incurred in the discharge of official duties as |
| 42 | provided in s. 112.061. |
| 43 | (5) The duties and responsibilities of the committee |
| 44 | include, but are not limited to, reviewing and commenting upon |
| 45 | proposed amendments to the Medicaid state plan; reviewing and |
| 46 | commenting upon proposed new Medicaid initiatives pertaining to |
| 47 | health care benefits and beneficiary eligibility, including |
| 48 | Medicaid waiver proposals and programs; participating in the |
| 49 | development of policies and standards; providing advice about |
| 50 | the content and dissemination of program materials; and |
| 51 | providing advice about gaps in services or barriers to the use |
| 52 | of services. The committee shall study and make recommendations |
| 53 | regarding other Medicaid-related topics as suggested by the |
| 54 | Legislature or the chair of the committee. The committee shall |
| 55 | provide a written report on its activities and recommendations |
| 56 | on or before November 30 of each year to the Governor, the |
| 57 | President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of |
| 58 | Representatives. |
| 59 | Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2007. |