Florida Senate - 2024                                     SB 726
       
       
        
       By Senator Garcia
       
       
       
       
       
       36-01466-24                                            2024726__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to priority enrollment for Medicaid
    3         home and community-based services; amending s.
    4         409.979, F.S.; adding specified individuals to the
    5         list of those who are afforded priority enrollment for
    6         Medicaid home and community-based services through the
    7         long-term care managed care program under certain
    8         circumstances; providing an effective date.
    9          
   10  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   11  
   12         Section 1. Paragraph (f) of subsection (3) of section
   13  409.979, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   14         409.979 Eligibility.—
   15         (3) WAIT LIST, RELEASE, AND OFFER PROCESS.—The Department
   16  of Elderly Affairs shall maintain a statewide wait list for
   17  enrollment for home and community-based services through the
   18  long-term care managed care program.
   19         (f) Notwithstanding this subsection, the following
   20  individuals are afforded priority enrollment for home and
   21  community-based services through the long-term care managed care
   22  program and do not have to complete the screening or wait-list
   23  process if all other long-term care managed care program
   24  eligibility requirements are met:
   25         1. An individual who is 18, 19, or 20 years of age who has
   26  a chronic debilitating disease or condition of one or more
   27  physiological or organ systems which generally make the
   28  individual dependent upon 24-hour-per-day medical, nursing, or
   29  health supervision or intervention.
   30         2. A nursing facility resident who requests to transition
   31  into the community and who has resided in a Florida-licensed
   32  skilled nursing facility for at least 60 consecutive days.
   33         3. An individual who is referred by the Department of
   34  Children and Families pursuant to the Adult Protective Services
   35  Act, ss. 415.101-415.113, as high risk and who is placed in an
   36  assisted living facility temporarily funded by the Department of
   37  Children and Families.
   38         4. An individual who has resided in a licensed assisted
   39  living facility in this state for at least 6 months, or for 30
   40  days following referral by the Department of Children and
   41  Families, and who requires assistance with two or more
   42  activities of daily living.
   43         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.